Staff Correspondent 

 Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Abdul Awal Mintoo called upon the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) to take an active role in adopting eco-friendly construction practices to curb air and dust pollution, especially ahead of the upcoming dry season.

He made the remarks on Sunday during a review meeting with REHAB representatives at the ministry's conference room in Dhaka to discuss measures for air pollution control across the capital and nationwide, dust suppression at construction sites, and expanding the use of eco-friendly blocks over traditional bricks.

The minister instructed construction entities to strictly adhere to environmental regulations by enclosing construction sites with appropriate coverings, keeping soil, sand, and building materials covered during storage and transport, and cleaning vehicle wheels before entering public roads. 

Minister of State for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam stressed that dust control measures must become a routine part of daily operations for every construction project. 

REHAB President Dr. Ali Afzal and Senior Vice-President Md. Abdur Razzaq presented their views on behalf of the delegation, requesting government intervention to ensure the quality of eco-friendly blocks and to keep their cost competitive relative to conventional bricks.

The meeting also covered setting time-bound targets for using eco-friendly blocks in new residential and commercial projects, incorporating block usage into building codes and RAJUK approval processes, and rationalizing VAT, taxes, and raw material import duties on block manufacturing.

Acting Secretary of the Ministry Dr. Fahmida Khanam, Additional Secretary (Environmental Pollution Control and Law) Dr. Md. Saidur Rahman, and other senior officials and REHAB representatives were present at the meeting.