[🇧🇩] Save the Rivers/Forests/Hills-----Save the Environment

[Saif]

Economy and environment

BANGLADESH’S meandering geographical landscape and low-lying delta topography make it susceptible to natural disasters. However, beyond these geographical challenges, there have been many more casualties, and all of them are directly or indirectly connected to reckless behaviour and flawed...

www.newagebd.net

Economy and environment
Ummi Hossain 29 April, 2025, 23:06

BANGLADESH’S meandering geographical landscape and low-lying delta topography make it susceptible to natural disasters. However, beyond these geographical challenges, there have been many more casualties, and all of them are directly or indirectly connected to reckless behaviour and flawed thinking frameworks. These problems mainly stem from unsustainable practices.

One of the contributors is the garment industry. More than 84 per cent of Bangladesh’s export earnings are produced in the textile sector. Bangladesh’s ready-made garment exports grew by 7.23 per cent in 2024, reaching $38.48 billion, up from $35.89 billion in 2023, according to the Export Promotion Bureau. On one hand, it is profitable, but on the other hand, it is harmful for our environment. Extreme emissions of carbon dioxide and solid waste are damaging the ecosystem continuously, and industrial wastes are directly polluting the water of the Buriganga, the Shitalakhya, and the Karnafuli River and also lands. Considering the economic advantages and environmental damages of this industry, Bangladesh should attract more eco-friendly systems where economic growth never becomes a barrier to environmental security. This shift in perspective is crucial for the growth and security of Bangladesh from various angles.

Likewise, a further threat is posed by brick kilns, as they are also a fundamental source of air pollution in Bangladesh. In this situation, two possibilities should be considered. First, new alternative technology to construction needs to be introduced; at least actions must be taken against unauthorised brick kilns. According to existing law, if any person makes bricks without obtaining a licence from the district administrator of the district of the brickfield, then he or she shall be punished with imprisonment for not more than one year, with or without a fine which may extend to one lakh taka or both.

Even in Bangladesh, the concerning impact of vehicles on worsening air pollution demands more attention. It not only causes immediate inconvenience in the surroundings but also long-term public health problems like heart diseases, asthma and other lung disorders. Over 235,000 lives were lost due to air pollution in 2021. Children under five years old are especially vulnerable, with health effects including premature birth, low birth weight, asthma and lung diseases.

Besides, there are still many unnecessary personal vehicles driven by gasoline and diesel that create harmful nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, benzene, and formaldehyde. According to the Motor Vehicles Ordinance 1983, whoever drives or causes or allows or lets out a motor vehicle for use in any public place, the smoke of which would constitute a health hazard, shall be punishable with a fine which may extend to 200 taka. Police can also seize and detain the vehicle. To deal with this difficult situation, the use of electric battery vehicles should be increased. In the renowned green city of Bangladesh named Rajshahi, this step has already been taken. At first, in 2008, battery-operated autorickshaws were presented in Rajshahi. After getting benefits from it, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology again introduced rental e-bikes for personal use, which are very eco-friendly for our environment. The e-bike charge fee is 2 taka per minute. It also helps to sustain the economic growth while promoting environmental security.

It is also important to acknowledge that deforestation is another major critical issue impacting Bangladesh. In 2020, Bangladesh’s natural forests spanned 1.82 million hectares, accounting for 13 per cent of its total land area. By 2023, the country had lost 20.2 thousand hectares of natural forest, leading to 11.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. Moreover, Section 33 of the Forest Act 1927 depicts that cutting or dragging any timber shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 5 years and shall not be less than six months and shall be liable to a fine which may extend to Tk 50,000 and not be less than Tk 5,000.

Moreover, Bangladesh has heavy reliance on fossil fuels for its energy security, marked by several challenges, including inefficient energy consumption and environmental concerns. Obviously, it serves as one of the main reasons for the emission of greenhouse gases and further degradation of the environment. On the other hand, the unnecessary use of air conditioning, televisions and other electric devices has increased. In addition to that, many outdated machines in buildings, industries, and transportation are consuming more and more energy. No wonder the reserves of the energy are depleting too. In turn, the mitigation of the environment has become more challenging because of the increased demand for the production of fossil fuel-based energy. Thereby, in an oppositional way, the reliance on diversifying renewable energy sources like solar, wind and hydroelectric power is really significant not only for economic security but also for environmental sustainability.

Furthermore, Bangladesh must consider global collaboration for energy security. It highlights how climate action cannot be isolated. The meaningful partnerships across international boundaries are required not only to secure funds for climate-induced loss and damage but also to foster the innovative, eco-friendly solutions. These solutions, moreover, aim to sustain the economic growth while causing no harm to the environment. Hence, by prioritising sustainability and minimising pollution, Bangladesh can not only enhance its climate resilience but also actively participate in global climate efforts.

Ummi Hossain is an apprentice lawyer at Rajshahi Judge Court.​

 

[Saif]

Govt should set policy focus right to save rivers

THE High Court in yet another welcome directive on May 6 asked the government to take some specific steps for a better oversight of River Sitalakhya conservation projects. The directive came on a writ petition by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh, which highlighted the unchecked dumping of...

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Govt should set policy focus right to save rivers
08 May, 2025, 00:00

THE High Court in yet another welcome directive on May 6 asked the government to take some specific steps for a better oversight of River Sitalakhya conservation projects. The directive came on a writ petition by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh, which highlighted the unchecked dumping of untreated industrial and solid waste into the river. The 110km Sitalakhya was once the mainstay for fishers but has now lost its aquatic biodiversity. The fisheries department earlier confirmed that waste dumped into the river was the main reason for the fish stock decline. Most industrial units along the river do not have functioning effluent treatment plants. In 2017, the environment department reported the level of dissolved oxygen in the Sitalakhya water at 2 parts per million during the monsoon season and almost zero level in the dry season, which should be 6 parts per million for the survival of aquatic lives. The High Court directive to form an oversight committee to prevent the pollution of the river is what the government should comply with.

The High Court has also asked the government to assess the extent of pollution and environmental damage and report back to court in three months. It has asked the authorities about their inaction in taking action against all responsible for the pollution. In 2010, a writ petition was filed seeking a court directive on the unchecked pollution of rivers. The court later issued a series of orders which included identifying errant industrial units and taking actions against them. In January 2020, the court asked the utility service providers to disconnect gas, power and water connections to the factories discharging untreated industrial wastes into the river. It is worrying that the litigant has to move court again to seek an order to enforce the directives. It is concerning given that the environment, forest and climate change adviser has announced the commitment to protecting and reclaiming rivers and had been on the front line of movements that sought protection of the environment. The steps so far taken resemble the insincerity of the predecessors, especially the deposed Awami League government.

The government should, therefore, abandon the superficial and non-committal policy attitude and take early action against errant industrial units and prosecute the Sitalakhya polluters. It should also comply with the court orders and not only the order at hand but all orders issued in the past.​

 

[Saif]

No new industries within 10km of Sundarbans ECA

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has prohibited any new industrial activities or projects within 10 kilometres of the Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) around the Sundarbans.

www.thedailystar.net

No new industries within 10km of Sundarbans ECA
Govt issues notification

Star file photo

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has prohibited any new industrial activities or projects within 10 kilometres of the Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) around the Sundarbans.

The ministry issued a notification, signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Sabrina Rahman, in this regard yesterday.

It said measures of necessary environmental conservation and pollution control may be adopted in light of the announcement. Also, action can be taken aiming at sustainable management.​

 

[Saif]

undefined | The Financial Express

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Speakers at policy breakfast urge clean air law, say it is a constitutional right, not a luxury
FE Online Report
Published :
May 15, 2025 19:45
Updated :
May 15, 2025 19:46

Speakers at a policy breakfast on Thursday underscored the need for the enactment of a clean air act and the inclusion of strict standards to control air pollutants emitted from power plants in the 2022 Air Pollution Control Rules.

They also called for strong administrative mechanisms and public-private partnerships with accountability in renewable energy financing.

Clean air is not a luxury—it is a constitutional right, they said.

The policy breakfast, titled "Revisiting Energy Policies for Ensuring Clean Air," was jointly organised by the Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS), Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP), and the Center for Participatory Research and Development (CPRD) at the conference hall of the BIP in Dhaka city.

CAPS Chairman Professor Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder presented the keynote paper at the event, which was chaired by Professor Md Shahidul Islam, Chairman of the Department of Geography and Environment at Dhaka University.

The country’s half a dozen coal-fired power plants are not only polluting the air but are also harmful to agriculture and biodiversity, said Abu Sayed Md Kamruzzaman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC).

Nayoka Martinez Bäckström, First Secretary and Deputy Head of Development Cooperation (Environment & Climate Change) of the Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka, highlighted the support of many European partners for a clean and just energy transition through innovation in energy efficiency and renewable energy, and by enhancing grid connectivity, distribution, and storage.

She also emphasised the importance of involving civil society organisations, researchers, think tanks, youth, and industry stakeholders in energy sector coordination.

The country’s energy demand can be reduced through increased public transport and greater use of renewable energy, which will also help control urban air pollution, said BIP President Professor Adil Muhammad Khan.

CPRD Executive Director Md Shamsuddoha stressed the need for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement, which is currently missing in national energy policies.

He called for ensuring civil society participation in national-level policymaking.

Mohammad Fazle Reza Suman, Convener of the Advisory Board of BIP; Dr Md Saifur Rahman, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; and Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem, Research Director at the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD), urged both the interim and future governments to rely on local expert panels rather than foreign consultants for developing energy and other policies.​

 

[Saif]

DNCC to collaborate with volunteers for conservation, greening of 33 canals in Dhaka

Several voluntary organisations will work to green the banks of 33 canals and lakes in Dhaka city by planting trees to prevent encroachment from June 1, said Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Mohammad Azaz. Azaz announced it after attending a meeting on-site inspection of canal, la

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

DNCC to collaborate with volunteers for conservation, greening of 33 canals in Dhaka
FE Online Desk
Published :
May 15, 2025 21:32
Updated :
May 15, 2025 21:32

Several voluntary organisations will work to green the banks of 33 canals and lakes in Dhaka city by planting trees to prevent encroachment from June 1, said Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Mohammad Azaz.

Azaz announced it after attending a meeting on-site inspection of canal, lake banks and determination action plan on Thursday, reports UNB.

The DNCC administrator said, “We are appointing one gardener for every one kilometre of the canal bank for planting and maintenance of trees. They will work together with these voluntary organizations.”

Each of the 33 canals has been allocated to a specific organisation. For example, Green Voice will be responsible for the Rampura canal, while OAB Foundation (RSDB) will manage the Abdullahpur canal.

Other participating organisations include Brighters, Human Safety Foundation, Young Climate Action Network, Smriti Sarkar, Dakshinkhan Welfare Society, Youth Environment and Development Organization, and Alokito Kori Amra.

The administrator also announced that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the city corporation and the volunteer organisations will be signed next week to formalise the collaboration.

Environmental engineer Mohammad Abul Kashem, urban planner Sanjida Haque, and other officials from the DNCC’s Environment, Climate, and Disaster Management Circle were present during the visit and discussions.​

 

[Saif]

When rivers weep in silence

RIVERS have for long been Bangladesh’s lifeblood — irrigating paddy fields at dawn, carrying timber and trade by noon, and quenching hearths and homes each evening. Yet today, these ancient arteries lie poisoned and diminished: the Buriganga is bathed in industrial effluent, the Sitalakhya reeks...

www.newagebd.net

When rivers weep in silence
Joydeep Chowdhury 18 May, 2025, 00:00

RIVERS have for long been Bangladesh’s lifeblood — irrigating paddy fields at dawn, carrying timber and trade by noon, and quenching hearths and homes each evening. Yet today, these ancient arteries lie poisoned and diminished: the Buriganga is bathed in industrial effluent, the Sitalakhya reeks of rust and neglect and the Turag is reduced to a choked whisper of its former breadth. We once invoked their names in song and myth. Now we invoke them in courtrooms.

In 2019, the High Court delivered a groundbreaking judgement. It declared the River Turag, and, by extension, all rivers, as living entities and legal persons. The Appellate Division upheld the ruling, establishing it as national law. The National River Conservation Commission was appointed in loco parentis, Latin for ‘in the place of a parent’, and is legally responsible for protecting these rivers, speaking on their behalf, and ensuring their rights are enforceable against both private corporations and public agencies.

This decision was not just a legal ruling; it was a poetic moment. It offered a river the dignity long afforded to banks and corporations. And yet, over half a decade later, the question floats unanswered: has the river’s life improved? The Buriganga still runs thick with industrial discharge, its waters as dark as night. The Sitalakhya smells of corrosion and abandonment. The Turag, once the inspiration for personhood, now flows like a wounded vein — narrowed, choked, silenced.

We gave rivers a voice in the courtroom but left them mute in the real world.

Where water becomes bloodline

TO UNDERSTAND the betrayal, we must first remember what rivers mean to this land. Bangladesh is not simply a country with rivers. It is a country made of them.

More than 700 rivers flow across this delta like ancestral threads, stitching together the nation’s geography, economy, memory, and soul. Rivers are not beside us; they are beneath us, within us. Our rice fields bow to their seasonal rhythms. Our fishermen trace their dreams along their channels. Our poems, songs and proverbs speak of the Padma, the Meghna and the Jamuna, not as water bodies but as mothers, lovers and warriors.

Rivers birthed our settlements. They fed our revolts. They carried our tears and our trade. Our language is moist with their memory — nadir mata chhila meyeti, she was like a river, as we say of a woman. They are metaphors and matter. They are flow and form.

When we say a river is dying, we are not speaking of water. We are speaking of lineage. We are speaking of ourselves.

Hollow inheritance of rights

LEGAL personhood is not a decorative label. It means an entity is granted rights similar to those of a human or a corporation. It can file and receive lawsuits. It can seek redress. This concept gained momentum in New Zealand when the River Whanganui received guardians who represent it in court and parliament.

In Bangladesh, however, river personhood was declared without such a scaffold. The rights exist in theory, but the river has no lawyer, no budget, and no standing. Factories still bleed toxins into their heart. Developers still gnaw away at its banks. Politicians still offer protection to the predators.

We handed the rivers a constitution, but not a conscience. We gave them a name, but not a backbone.

The National River Conservation Commission, declared the guardian of the rivers, cannot file criminal complaints independently. It cannot enforce eviction orders. It cannot compel factories to change or ministries to act. It relies on fragile cooperation from overlapping and often complicit government agencies. This process is not guardianship. This is ceremonial witnessing. A parent who cannot protect their child is not truly a parent. A guardian who cannot raise a voice in court or break a concrete slab from a riverbank is no guardian at all.

Symbolism, not stewardship

BANGLADESH’S personhood ruling has been cited in global law reviews and praised at conferences. But what has it achieved at home? The Buriganga’s breath grows thinner by the year. Untreated urban discharge pollutes the Karnaphuli. The Meghna swells with plastic, foam, and pesticide.

Symbolism without infrastructure is cruelty with flair. We have clothed our rivers in law’s finest language and then left them to die in silence.

A parallel unfolded in India in March 2017, when Uttarakhand’s High Court declared in Mohammad Salim v State of Uttarakhand that the Ganges and Yamuna were ‘living persons,’ appointing state officials in loco parentis to defend their rights. Weeks later, however, the Supreme Court stayed the order, citing its overreach and the absence of legislative authority, leaving both sacred rivers to continue bleeding untreated sewage and industrial waste. This legal mirage reveals that personhood in the abstract cannot heal poisoned waters; only a clear legislative framework, budgeted enforcement, and genuine guardianship can.

Ritualising rivers

THIS legal spectacle has left our rivers mere stage props. We have mastered lofty proclamations — granting personhood in courtrooms, convening seminars, and publishing glossy reports — but failed at real stewardship. Judges may declare rivers ‘legal persons,’ yet the agencies tasked with protecting them often lack sufficient funds, independence, and authority. A guardian without power is nothing more than an empty shell.

Our personhood ruling was a splendid ceremony: the law clothed rivers in sanctity but let them drown beneath concrete embankments and factory effluent. We extol ‘living entities’ while allowing the same encroachments, illegal discharges, and sand-mining that halve their breadth. Without a firm legislative framework — clear statutes defining guardians’ powers and enforceable remedies — our rivers remain ghosts: honoured in name, abandoned in reality.

True guardianship needs more than words. It demands funded enforcement units free to file suit, dedicated river tribunals to hear pollution cases, and empowered community stewards to act when a river’s health falters. Otherwise, personhood is a poem recited to a corpse — beautiful in theory, lifeless in practice.

Illusion of equivalence

BORROWED legal models such as Ecuador’s constitutional nature rights and New Zealand’s Maori guardianship do not translate neatly into Bangladesh’s socio-legal context. We lack the legislative follow-through, the political will, and the cultural respect for law that such transformations demand. Our rivers do not need foreign costumes. They need local custodians: boatmen, farmers, poets, and local councils — those who understand the rhythm of monsoon and silt, who weep when a river recedes.

The rivers may be ‘legal persons,’ but who will act on their behalf? Who will file the lawsuit when a textile plant dumps mercury into a canal? Who will attend court, pay the legal fees, and gather evidence? Without a river rights act, a law clearly defining legal standing, funding, and procedural recourse, the verdict means little. Justice that exists only in a judge’s chamber is no justice at all.

The interim government’s silence exacerbates the present situation. Without direct electoral pressure, it is reasonable to assume that this is the ideal time to act decisively and establish long-overdue ecological accountability. Nonetheless, the temporary administration has maintained a disconcerting quiet. The lack of communication from the environmental adviser’s office is notably unexpected, considering her established reputation as an environmentalist. Her public credentials include decades of advocacy, numerous accolades, and international recognition. At this pivotal juncture, her office has neither issued any significant statement nor articulated regulatory resistance to the industry’s ongoing damage to our rivers. This dilemma necessitates an evaluation. Why does a prominent environmentalist keep silent as rivers become polluted and disappear?

Bangladesh’s environmental statutes are deeply anthropocentric. They protect rivers only because humans need them. But what about the river as a being, an ecosystem, a cultural mirror? We must shift from the idea of rivers as usable things to rivers as co-inhabitants of this land. That shift is not legalistic. It is philosophical. And perhaps it’s the only path to survival.

Metaphor must bleed

WE CALLED the rivers people. That metaphor must now bleed into budgets, litigation, schoolbooks, and city planning. It must change how embankments are built, how factories are inspected, how water is treated, and how children are taught. If a river is a person, then poisoning it is murder. Encroachment must be considered theft. Then silence must be complicity.

The 2019 decision, affirmed by the Appellate Division, was not merely a ruling. It was a moment of national self-recognition. But the potential for change is hindered by policy paralysis. A law without legs is not a law — it is literature. Rivers once carved this land into civilisation. Now we must carve a civilisation that respects the rivers.

Let us not wait until our rivers become relics in textbooks and names of roads. Let us act not as landlords of nature but as children returned to their mother. If the law cannot cry with the rivers, then what is its voice for?

Joydeep Chowdhury is a lecturer in law at Sonargaon University, Dhaka. He is also an advocate at the district and sessions judges court, Dhaka.​

 

[Saif]

Over 103,900 hectares forestland restored under SUFAL project

As many as 103,960 hectares of forestland have been restored, with notable improvements in the diversity of indigenous plant species across hill tracts, Sal forests, and coastal zones. Adviser to the environment ministry Syeda Rizwana Hasan shared the development on Wednesday, calling it a landmar

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Over 103,900 hectares forestland restored under SUFAL project
FE ONLINE REPORT
Published :
May 21, 2025 21:19
Updated :
May 21, 2025 21:24

As many as 103,960 hectares of forestland have been restored, with notable improvements in the diversity of indigenous plant species across hill tracts, Sal forests, and coastal zones.

Adviser to the environment ministry Syeda Rizwana Hasan shared the development on Wednesday, calling it a landmark achievement of the Sustainable Forests and Livelihoods (SUFAL) Project.

The initiative is driving forest restoration, biodiversity conservation, and improved community livelihoods across Bangladesh, she added.

Speaking as the chief guest at the wrap-up meeting of the World Bank Implementation Support Mission at the ministry, the adviser highlighted the successful rollout of the Site-Specific Planning (SSP) tool using an ODK-based dashboard.

This digital innovation has enabled the Forest Department to adopt data-driven approaches for restoration planning.

Rizwana Hasan also mentioned the completion of the Red List assessment for 1,000 plant species and the formulation of a strategic management plan to tackle invasive alien plant species in five protected areas.

Among the project’s other notable accomplishments were the approval of the National Conservation Strategy and the Plan of Action for Sharks and Rays, along with the development of Non-Detriment Findings (NDFs) for four shark and ray species—a critical step toward ensuring sustainable wildlife trade.

The adviser emphasised the full operationalisation of the Community Operations Manual (COM) in 615 Collaborative Forest Management (CFM) institutions, directly benefiting over 41,000 forest-dependent individuals.

She further noted that environmental and social safeguards have been embedded across all field operations, including plantations and infrastructure development, while e-Government Procurement (e-GP) ensured transparency and accountability in all procurement processes.​

 

[Saif]

Biodiversity finance initiative launched to mobilise finance for nature

Bangladesh has officially launched the "Umbrella Programme to Support Development of Biodiversity Finance Plans", marking a significant step toward sustainable financing for biodiversity conservation. The initiative is part of the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN)—a global partnership...

en.prothomalo.com

Biodiversity finance initiative launched to mobilise finance for nature
Staff Correspondent Dhaka
Published: 22 May 2025, 21: 44

Biodiversity finance initiative launched to mobilise finance for nature Collected

Bangladesh has officially launched the "Umbrella Programme to Support Development of Biodiversity Finance Plans", marking a significant step toward sustainable financing for biodiversity conservation.

The initiative is part of the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN)—a global partnership led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF)—which works with over 130 countries to develop innovative finance solutions for nature.

The launch event, held at the Department of Environment (DoE) and co-organised by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and UNDP, underscored Bangladesh's commitment to mobilising resources for biodiversity protection in line with its obligations under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

Farhina Ahmed, Secretary of MoEFCC, emphasised the urgency of integrated environmental governance. “This initiative provides a crucial platform to close financing gaps and achieve sustainable development for both people and planet,” she stated.

Sonali Dayaratne, Resident Representative, UNDP Bangladesh, reaffirmed UNDP’s partnership, noting, “Ecosystems are foundational economic assets. Investing in biodiversity means investing in food and water security, climate resilience, and human well-being.”

In his keynote, Arif M Faisal, UNDP Programme Specialist, highlighted the current status of biodiversity finance, existing financing gaps in Bangladesh and proposed the establishment of a National Biodiversity Trust Fund, incorporating biodiversity budget tagging, eco-tourism revenue sharing, and payments for ecosystem services.

Chairing the event, Md Kamruzzaman, Director General of DoE, hailed the launch as “a milestone,” calling for collaborative action to enhance resilience and protect biodiversity through innovative financing.

The event also featured high-level interventions from MoEFCC officials, interactive sessions on the best global practices, and discussions on financing solutions aligned with the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), National Biodiversity Target and the Global Biodiversity Framework.

Annabelle C Trinidad, Senior Technical Advisor of BIOFIN, discussed the global perspective of the BIOFIN programme and various innovative instruments used for nature conservation.

The launch brought together representatives from government, civil society, academia, the private sector, and development partners—united by a shared goal: to make nature-positive development a reality through sustainable finance.​

 

[Saif]

ঢাকার চার নদী দখল-দূষণমুক্তে বিস্তারিত কর্মপরিকল্পনা গ্রহণের ঘোষণা: পরিবেশ, বন ও জলবায়ু উপদেষ্টা

পানি সম্পদ এবং পরিবেশ, বন ও জলবায়ু পরিবর্তন মন্ত্রণালয়ের উপদেষ্টা সৈয়দা রিজওয়ানা হাসান জানিয়েছেন, ঢাকার চারপাশের বুড়িগঙ্গা, তুরাগ, বালু ও শীতলক্ষ্যা নদী দখল এবং দূষণমুক্ত করতে সরকার বিস্তারিত কর্মপরিকল্পনা গ্রহণ করছে। তিনি বলেন, বিশ্ব ব্যাংকের সহায়তায় প্রাথমিকভাবে তুরাগ নদীকে দখল ও দূষণমুক্ত ক

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

ঢাকার চার নদী দখল-দূষণমুক্তে বিস্তারিত কর্মপরিকল্পনা গ্রহণের ঘোষণা: পরিবেশ, বন ও জলবায়ু উপদেষ্টা

এফই অনলাইন ডেস্ক
Published :
May 23, 2025 23:58
Updated :
May 23, 2025 23:58

পানি সম্পদ এবং পরিবেশ, বন ও জলবায়ু পরিবর্তন মন্ত্রণালয়ের উপদেষ্টা সৈয়দা রিজওয়ানা হাসান জানিয়েছেন, ঢাকার চারপাশের বুড়িগঙ্গা, তুরাগ, বালু ও শীতলক্ষ্যা নদী দখল এবং দূষণমুক্ত করতে সরকার বিস্তারিত কর্মপরিকল্পনা গ্রহণ করছে।

তিনি বলেন, বিশ্ব ব্যাংকের সহায়তায় প্রাথমিকভাবে তুরাগ নদীকে দখল ও দূষণমুক্ত করার উদ্যোগ নেওয়া হবে। এর জন্য প্রয়োজনীয় পরিকল্পনা চূড়ান্তের কাজ চলছে।

আজ শুক্রবার (২৩ মে) রাজধানীর বাংলাদেশ শিল্পকলা একাডেমির জাতীয় চিত্রশালায় জাতীয় নদী দিবস ২০২৫ উপলক্ষে নোঙ্গর ট্রাস্ট আয়োজিত ‘জীবন নদী’ সপ্তাহব্যাপী চিত্র প্রদর্শনীর আলোচনা সভায় এসব কথা বলেন তিনি।

রিজওয়ানা হাসান বলেন, নদী দখলদার উচ্ছেদ, ড্রেজিং, সীমানা নির্ধারণ এবং শিল্প-প্রতিষ্ঠানগুলো যেন দূষণ না ছড়ায়, সে বিষয়ে পরিবেশ অধিদপ্তরের সক্ষমতা বাড়াতে হবে। তিনি আরও বলেন, নদীগুলো রক্ষা না করলে বাংলাদেশ টিকবে না।

তিনি জানান, রাজধানীর ১৯টি খাল দখলমুক্ত ও পরিষ্কারের জন্য স্বল্প ব্যয়ে ড্রেজিংয়ের কাজ শুরু করা হয়েছে, যাতে ঢাকায় জলাবদ্ধতা কমানো যায়।

এছাড়া তিনি বলেন, ইতোমধ্যে সব জেলা প্রশাসকদের কাছ থেকে নদীর তালিকা সংগ্রহ করে তা প্রকাশ করা হয়েছে। ৬৪ জেলার নদীগুলোর তালিকা থেকে ১১টি নদী বাছাই করে বিশেষ পরিকল্পনা নিয়ে কাজ শুরুর উদ্যোগ নেওয়া হচ্ছে।

তিনি আশাবাদ ব্যক্ত করেন, এ ধরনের প্রদর্শনীর মাধ্যমে নদী ও পরিবেশ নিয়ে মানুষের সচেতনতা বাড়বে এবং জনগণ সোচ্চার হলে সরকারও নিষ্ক্রিয় থাকতে পারবে না।

পরে তিনি ‘জীবন নদী’ শীর্ষক প্রদর্শনীর উদ্বোধন করেন এবং প্রদর্শনী ঘুরে দেখেন। এ ছাড়া তিনি নদী কর্মীদের অংশগ্রহণে আয়োজিত সাইকেল র‍্যালিরও শুভ উদ্বোধন করেন।

অনুষ্ঠানে সভাপতিত্ব করেন নোঙ্গর ট্রাস্টের চেয়ারম্যান সুমন শামস। বিশেষ অতিথি হিসেবে বক্তব্য দেন ওয়ারপোর মহাপরিচালক মোহাম্মদ লুৎফুর রহমান, হাওর অঞ্চলবাসী সংগঠনের প্রধান সমন্বয়ক জাকিয়া শিশির এবং সাকুরা স্টিল লিমিটেডের ব্যবস্থাপনা পরিচালক ইব্রাহিম আহমেদ রিপন।​

 

[Saif]

Biodiversity threatened by hill agriculture

Yesterday, 22 May was the international day for biological diversity. This year, we pledge ‘harmony with nature and sustainable development’ on this occasion. To survive properly, the first thing we need is to build a close relationship with the environment and maintain a proper balance with it.

en.prothomalo.com

Biodiversity threatened by hill agriculture
To survive properly, the first thing we need is to build a close relationship with the environment and maintain a proper balance with it.

Mrityunjoy Roy
Published: 23 May 2025, 17: 20

The soil around the base of teak trees that are highly water absorbent has eroded severely. Photo taken in Dharmaghar area of Kutukchhari in Rangamati Sadar upazila on 20 May 2025. Supriyo Chakma

Although Bangladesh is a small country, there is a lot of diversity here. The country has a particularly rich collection of agricultural and biological diversity. Very few countries in the world have the crop diversity like Bangladesh.

Around 400 different types of crops are cultivated here. And, there are thousands of varieties of these crops. At one time, there were over 12,000 varieties of paddy alone.

Just like crops, there is a wide range of plant diversity as well. The country is home to nearly 6,000 species of flora, 1,600 species of vertebrate, and 2,500 species of invertebrate life-forms. It has not been possible to determine an accurate account of Bangladesh’s biodiversity yet.

The country is also unique in its landform diversity. A vast delta formed with Himalayan silt and crushed rock, Bangladesh has a lot of wetlands, haors (floodplains), highlands, hills along with the sea. On one side there lies the sea-washed coastline with plants, crocodiles, and turtles living in the saline water and soil there.

Meanwhile, about 400 species of freshwater fish and the Gangetic dolphin inhabit the rivers, canals, and wetlands here. Then there is the Sundarbans a mangrove forest on the edge of the sea, which works as a natural protector for us.

The Sundarbans is home to 528 species of plants, 339 species of birds, and about 1,600 other species of wildlife, including microorganisms. On the other hand, Bangladesh’s evergreen and mixed hill forest is a part of the 34 biodiversity hotspots around the world.

There are 1,560 species of flowering plants, including orchids, bamboo, teak, garjan, telsur, and bailam found in the hill forests. Plus, these forests are home to a variety of animals including elephants, leopards, deer, bears, butterflies, lizards, snakes, and different bird species.

Before the 1960s, the hill tracts were lush and full of biodiversity. However, the construction of the Kaptai dam in the 1960s and increased human settlement started cutting down on the greenery.

Similarly, the expansion of tea gardens and crop farming in Sylhet and Moulvibazar led to the destruction of many hill forests. As a result, many of the biodiversity from the hill tracts came under threat while several species disappeared completely.

Plains agriculture creeps up to hills
Our natural hills are no longer retaining their original form. In ancient times, the hill forests were the habitats for flora, thick with large trees covering the slopes in greenery. There was no such human presence there rather they served as a habitat and sanctuaries for the wild animals.

But as the country’s population increased, humans gradually encroached upon these areas. Forests were cleared to build homes, and jhum farming expanded to meet the demand of food.

Traditionally, a particular hill is used for jhum farming only once in a year. After farming on the hill once, the farmers locally known as Jumiya leave that hill fallow before starting cultivation on that land again. Doing jhum farming in this method allows the soil to regain its natural fertility.

Earlier, jhum farming was done on a limited scale. But now, cultivation of a wide range of crops typically grown in the plains is now expanding extensively in the hill tracts overpowering jhum farming.

Nowadays, crops such as bush beans, cabbage, cauliflower, kohlrabi, long beans, tomatoes, coriander, tobacco, sugarcane, and chillies are commercially grown on hill slopes, valleys between slopes, and near streams across different seasons—just like in the plains. According to statistics, pineapples were cultivated on 3,314 acres and mangoes on 3,748 acres of land in Rangamati in 2020–21.

Meanwhile, mango was cultivated on 2,839 acres of land in Bandarban and on 4,207 acres in Khagrachari. Many fruit orchards have been established through various development projects as well. Fruits that are usually cultivated on the plains are the same ones now being grown in the hills.

Hill-grown amrapali mangoes have been branded in Dhaka and the production of fruit in the country is increasing, which in turn is helping to improve our nutrition. However, we may not be able to see the damage it is causing to the local environment, biodiversity and to the ecosystem, the consequences of that are far-reaching.

The same soil that is loosened in cultivating these crops on the hill slope is washing away during rainfall before filling out the streams and canals while sometimes causing landslides when the softened soil collapses. The meaning of wetlands, lowlands, and streams being filled out is making scopes for many aquatic biodiversity to vanish completely.

Permanent mango, jackfruit, and lychee orchards have now been established on many hills. Tea, coffee, and cashew farming are also on the rise. Recently retired additional director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Paban Chakma, who was born and raised in the hills of Khagrachari, said the hill environment he knew in his childhood, with clean water sources, diverse wildlife, and lush greenery, has largely vanished now.

Even traditional jhum farmers are shifting towards more profitable crops like turmeric, chorakochu or mukhikachu (a variety of local yam or taro root), and cassava. This is a very common picture now in the hills of Matiranga, Guimara, Laxmichhari, and Manikchhari.

These crops require digging into the soil. Even pineapples are now being cultivated by digging into the soil, which is loosening the soil on the hills, making them fragile. The loosened soil is rolls downhill and filling out the small streams locally known as jhiri. The local verities of fish fries there used to be in these jhiris of Matiranga in his childhood, are nowhere to be found now, he added.

It’s not just the fish, Paban Chakma saw bear cubs in Jharnatila area of Matiranga even in 2005. But, no more of them have been sighted since. Also the fruit orchards are failing to yield expected harvest sometimes. For instance, while the local lychee varieties are still bearing fruit, there is no production of China-2 and China-3 varieties due to fluctuating temperatures in recent years. Meanwhile, mango trees are increasingly being affected by diseases and pests.

The loss of nature’s treasure trove
Through this method of cultivation, we have lost many medicinal plants native to the hills as well as endangered various animal species that depended on those plants. It is generally believed that when a single plant species disappears from its habitat, at least 30 species of organisms that rely on it are put at risk. In cultivating these crops from the plains on the hills, are we not losing those vital biological resources?

When people living on the hills fall ill, they often rely on local herbs and plants found in their surroundings for treatment. A research by the Bangladesh National Herbarium has shown that the indigenous communities of the Chittagong Hill Tracts use 2,295 prescriptions to treat at least 302 different illnesses. These traditional remedies involve around 700 species of forest medicinal plants.

Many of these precious plants from this rich botanical database have been wiped out in the name of clearing weeds for farming. Besides, the insects and animals that survive by feeding on the leaves, sap, and fruits of those plants have also disappeared from there. It seems we may be losing a lot in our quest to gain a little.

There is no denying that we must cultivate crops for food. At the same time, we must also acknowledge that we do not have the right to destroy any natural habitat or harm biodiversity in the process. Also the country’s environmental conservation laws do not permit that. Unless there is a balance between agriculture and conservation, ecological and environmental disaster become inevitable.

We must let the crop fields remain for crops and the hills remain as hills. Disrupting the innate environment and food chain of different types of biodiversity there are in these two ecosystems will interrupt our own food chain one day.

Hills are being cut down to build walls, and the excavated soil is being used to fill in paddy fields. This ongoing destruction is severely harming the ecosystem of the hills. As a result, the biodiversity of these areas is under increasing threat. Photo taken in Shukrachhari area of Rangamati Sadar upazila on 20 May 2025. Prothom Alo

Humans behind environmental pollution

It’s not just the invasion of plains crop cultivation we are also polluting the environment on the hills in cultivating those crops. Machines used to pump irrigation water from streams or to till the soil burn fuel. The forests are being cleared and burned to make space for farmland by destroying native and natural vegetation. This further releases carbon and pollutes the air.

In addition to this, there are incidents of illegal land grabs, deforestation, and hill-cutting as well. Chemical fertilisers and pesticides, which are harmful to the environment, were never part of traditional hill or jhum agriculture.

These chemicals are now being used indiscriminately and extensively due to the boom in commercial farming. And, this is killing a wide range of insects and creatures, starting from the pollinators.

As a result, the soil, water, and air in those ecosystems are becoming polluted. The use of chemical fertilisers is harming soil microbes, while fertiliser-mixed water is entering the streams and canals, killing small fish and disrupting aquatic life.

Invasive species

If you go to Suwalok union in Bandarban, you will see an abundance of mangium and akashmoni trees in the hill forests. Similarly, you will see a widespread plantation of teak trees alongside eucalyptus by the rubber orchards in Ramgarh of Khagrachhari and on the hilly slopes of Rangamati.

Teak tree plantation on the hills of Chittagong Hill Tracts, Chattogram, and Sylhet began back in 1873. In the 1980s, teak trees were planted in these areas officially by the government.

From the experience of the locals living on the hills, no other plants can grow beneath the teak trees. The fallen teak leaves also degrade the soil where it accumulates in heaps. As far as the teak roots spread underground, new saplings sprout all along the roots. So, they quickly take over the new habitat.

However, the teak root does not spread out like a net thus fail to prevent soil erosion. Also it is a valuable timber tree so nobody likes to clear the teak trees out. These trees then drive out other species of trees from the vicinity.

The small streams, springs, and waterfalls are the only source of drinking water on the hills. According to locals’ experience, when the natural forests are cleared and replaced with extensive teak plantations, these trees can absorb vast amounts of water to dry out the soil.

When DAE additional director Paban Chakma was an upazila agriculture officer in Rangamati Sadar back in 2018, he saw teak plantation spread on the hill right in front of his eyes. Before the teak plantation was established, he had seen water flowing in the canal of Deppochhari of Sapchhari area there.

He said that water cannot be found there even by digging into the soil any longer, let alone the canals or the springs. Also, the rainfall patterns have become erratic. The water crisis on the hills is now at its peak.

Although we are happy to plant teak trees for making furniture, they have now become a threat to many species of biodiversity and native forest plants. Similarly, plants like asam tree, asam creeper, kash (wild sugarcane grass), shon (sungrass), lojjaboti (mimosa), bilati tulsi (bush mint), and lantana are also behaving invasively in the hill tracts.

Even water hyacinth is raising concern with navigation in the Kaptai lake and the Karnaphuli river at times. These dense, mat-like layers of water hyacinth block sunlight from reaching the water. And, this disrupts the life cycle of many aquatic creatures.

For example, dragonflies can lay eggs only in open water. Their larvae cannot survive without water. And, their species will not continue with laying eggs. Meanwhile, fish survive from consuming these dragonfly larvae living in water.

This bonding between the living organisms and the nature is eternal. The spread of these foreign invasive plants, while ignoring the natural native vegetation of the forests, leads to ecosystem changes and the gradual disappearance of indigenous flora.

This has a negative impact involving displacement of native species of plants and animals, change of the natural nutrition cycles, and reduction of biodiversity in the hill forests.

Research and action needed

Yesterday, 22 May was the international day for biological diversity. This year, we pledge ‘harmony with nature and sustainable development’ on this occasion. To survive properly, the first thing we need is to build a close relationship with the environment and maintain a proper balance with it.

In Bangladesh, thirteen Ecologically Critical Areas (ECAs) have been designated to emphasise on the importance of preserving environmental balance. Areas are declared as ECAs to protect various species of flora, fauna, and overall biodiversity.

While the Sundarbans is included in this list, the hill forests are absent. That means, the hilly forests have not been classified or declared as ecologically critical areas. The issue calls for reassessment and research considering the reality.

If declared an ECA, many activities that are destructive to the environment could be restricted in these regions. The indiscriminate destruction of natural forests and vegetation would be prevented, hunting of wild animals would be banned, and the natural habitats of plants and animals would be preserved and actions causing soil, water, air and noise pollution will be prohibited in those areas. And, this will protect the country’s biodiversity.

Although there have been some scattered research on this, no complete list of the country’s biodiversity has been prepared yet. There needs to be more research in this field. Also there is a need for detailed studies to strike a balance between agriculture with environmental conservation. Developing and implementing eco-friendly agricultural technologies can both protect the environment and increase food production.

Given the country’s geographical location and environmental conditions, implementing “crop zoning” method for food production would be a logical step. Such planning and legislation is needed for it that nobody can cultivate whatever crop they want in any certain place just at random. Most importantly, an effective awareness and involvement of local communities is essential for the conservation of biodiversity.

*Mrityunjoy Roy, agronomist and environmental writer​

 

[Saif]

Don’t let hill destroyers get away unpunished

Troubling development involving fine exemptions comes to light

www.thedailystar.net

Don’t let hill destroyers get away unpunished
Troubling development involving fine exemptions comes to light

VISUAL: STAR

A troubling development has recently come to light, highlighting the culture of impunity that flourished under the Awami League regime. According to a report by Prothom Alo, two contractors—Toma Construction and Messrs Hasan International—were fined Tk 50 crore by the Department of Environment (DoE) in early 2021 (or late 2020) for illegally cutting hills in Chattogram during the construction of the Dohazari-Cox's Bazar railway project. However, the companies were exempted from paying the fine in June 2022 allegedly by the then secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, who also chaired the ministry's appeal authority at the time. This points to a serious abuse of power, with strong indications that the waiver was due to the secretary's ties with the companies involved.

As per an earlier report, the above-mentioned companies excavated 2.22 crore cubic feet of earth from hills in the Rangapahar area of Lohagara upazila, far exceeding the approved limit. While the government authorised the excavation of 37 hills—an act that is itself questionable—the companies cut an additional 16 without permission. According to a DoE official, the environmental damage caused by Toma Construction, a company of questionable repute, was estimated at around Tk 2,000 crore! Because of the sheer scale of the damage, the matter was allegedly hushed up to avoid further scrutiny.

In November 2021—nine months or so after the levying of the initial fine of Tk 50 crore, which was exempted at a later stage—the Chattogram DoE filed a case against the two companies with the Environment Court, which delivered its verdict on February 26 last year. Messrs Hasan International reportedly admitted its offence and was fined Tk 120,000, while Toma Construction was fined only Tk 50,000. Such nominal penalties for such grave violations raise serious concerns about the effectiveness of our justice system and environmental safeguards.

Over the past decades, illegal hill-cutting has become rampant across the country despite being prohibited by law, precisely because of the complicity of relevant officials and the political connections of offenders. Chattogram city alone has lost 120 hills over the last 40 years to real estate developments, road construction, and other projects. Alarmingly, this destructive trend has continued even after the political transition in August last year. Given the aspirations of the new Bangladesh we are trying to build, the authorities must take decisive steps to halt further destruction of hills and hold all responsible parties—regardless of their connections or influence—fully accountable. Our environment cannot afford another chapter of negligence and impunity.​

 

[Saif]

Madhupur Sal forest and its biodiversity will be brought back: Rizwana

The forest dwellers here should play their role in protecting this forest, says the environment adviser

www.thedailystar.net

Madhupur Sal forest and its biodiversity will be brought back: Rizwana

Photo: Mirza Shakil/Star

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today said that the Sal trees and its biodiversity will be brought back to the Sal forest.

"The forest dwellers here should play their role in protecting this forest. Students are being involved in these activities. Boundary pillars are being provided to identify the encroached areas in the forest," Rizwana said while planting Sal seedlings in the Telki area of Madhupur under the jurisdiction of the Tangail Forest Department in the afternoon.

Therefore, more and more Sal trees should be planted in the upcoming monsoon, she said.

She also said that eucalyptus and acacia trees are commercially planted in the Sal forest. These will be phased out.

Photo: Mirza Shakil/Star

In response to a question from journalists, the adviser said that although it is not possible to do it now, the encroached forest land of Madhupur will be recovered in phases.

Later, the activities of the "Madhupur Shalban Restoration through the Participation of Local Communities" project were inaugurated by inspecting the boundary marking work and installing boundary pillars in the Rajabari area of the Madhupur forest area.

She addressed as the chief guest at a discussion meeting marking the International Day for Biological Diversity 2025 in Dokhala, Madhupur.

She called on local forest dwellers to be vigilant in protecting the forest. She told them that if they are in the forest, they should behave like the forest.

Photo: Mirza Shakil/Star

She said that hundreds of acres of forest land should be cleared of pineapple and banana cultivation and trees compatible with the Sal forest should be planted.

At this time, the advisor announced the withdrawal of 129 cases filed against forest dwellers, including ethnic minorities, in Madhupur.

Renowned wildlife expert Professor Mohammad Ali Reza Khan, Chief Conservator of Forests Md Amir Hossain Chowdhury, Tangail Deputy Commissioner Sharifa Haque, Tangail Divisional Forest Officer Abu Naser Mohsin Hossain, local tribal leaders Ajay A Mre and Eugene Nokrek were also spoke the meeting.

Earlier, the advisor inaugurated the process of releasing peacocks at Luhuriya in Madhupur National Park.

In the morning, Rizwana inaugurated the 500,000 tree planting programme organised by local environmental organisation Sabuj Prithibi by planting trees at the public service square in front of the Tangail Deputy Commissioner's office.​

 

[Saif]

Saving the Modhupur Forest a race against time

There was a time when the Modhupur forest, also known as the Modhupur Sal forest, was a vibrant ecosystem teeming with wildlife. For those who grew up near its edges, the memories of deer grazing freely, birdsong echoing through thick canopies, and the subtle rustle of Sal leaves in the wind are in

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Saving the Modhupur Forest a race against time

MIR MOSTAFIZUR RAHAMAN
Published :
May 26, 2025 23:42
Updated :
May 26, 2025 23:42

There was a time when the Modhupur forest, also known as the Modhupur Sal forest, was a vibrant ecosystem teeming with wildlife. For those who grew up near its edges, the memories of deer grazing freely, birdsong echoing through thick canopies, and the subtle rustle of Sal leaves in the wind are indelible. But today, these sounds are fading, and the forest is shrinking before our eyes. What was once a vast stretch of 45,000 acres of Sal-dominated wilderness has now been reduced to mere 10,000 acres. The culprit: unchecked deforestation, illegal encroachment, and unregulated agricultural activities.

The decline of Modhupur Forest situated in Tangail district, is not just a local tragedy -- it is a national crisis. Many environmentalists and scientists fear that this 22,000-year-old natural treasure might vanish within the next ten years if we fail to act decisively. The forest's destruction would not only erase a critical biodiversity hotspot but also dismantle an ecological system that supports water regulation, carbon storage, and soil conservation in central Bangladesh.

Against this alarming backdrop, the recent initiative by the Government of Bangladesh to restore the degraded Sal forest through a community-based approach is both commendable and urgently needed. It represents a crucial shift in forest management -- one that acknowledges that forests cannot be saved by fences and enforcement alone, but by involving the very people who live alongside them.

According to officials from the Forest Department, the restoration efforts in Modhupur rest on several vital pillars. The backbone of this initiative is the replanting of native Sal trees in degraded zones. This move is essential for reviving the forest's original character and biodiversity.

The inclusion of local communities in the restoration process is key. By turning forest dwellers into stewards of the environment, the initiative aims to build sustainable, long-term conservation practices.

Demarcation and reclamation of forestlands are also crucial under which a significant portion of forestland will be officially demarcated to protect it from illegal occupation. Forest areas already encroached upon are being reclaimed and reforested.

The government is also embracing a data-driven model. With tools such as an ODK-based dashboard, forest officials are now equipped to undertake precise, site-specific planning for restoration.

This comprehensive approach -- rooted in ecology, technology, and community partnership -- marks a new chapter in Bangladesh's environmental conservation journey.

The restoration of the Sal forest carries implications far beyond the boundaries of Modhupur. First and foremost, Sal forests are critical for biodiversity conservation. They are home to many native species of plants, birds, and animals that are now facing the threat of extinction due to habitat loss.

Second, these forests provide vital ecosystem services -- they regulate water cycles, sequester carbon, and help conserve the soil. Their disappearance would exacerbate climate vulnerability in the region, increasing risks like flooding, drought, and land degradation.

Third, Sal forests offer livelihoods to many indigenous and local communities, particularly the Garo people, who have historically relied on forest products, farming, and cultural practices tied to the land.

Lastly, Sal forests play an essential role in maintaining the ecological balance of central Bangladesh. Their continued degradation would have cascading effects on weather patterns, agricultural productivity, and human health in the broader region.

Despite the promising framework of the restoration initiative, its success will depend on a few critical factors like ensuring clear demarcation and legal protection.

Boundary demarcation is essential. Without clear physical boundaries -- marked by durable boundary pillars -- the forest will remain vulnerable to encroachment. These legal protections must be upheld without exception, and regular monitoring should be conducted to prevent further illegal activities.

The government's decision to plant only native Sal trees and allow a mix of 70 per cent Sal and 30 per cent companion species is ecologically sound. Foreign and invasive species have no place in a restoration effort of this kind, as they can disrupt local ecosystems and outcompete native flora.

A major concern lies in the use of pesticides and chemical hormones in pineapple and banana cultivation by members of the Garo community and other settlers within the forest. These practices not only degrade the forest soil but also poison water sources and threaten wildlife. Alternatives must be provided -- such as organic farming training, sustainable land use planning, and economic incentives -- to ensure that livelihoods are not sacrificed in the name of conservation.

No part of the forest -- regardless of the socio-economic background of the claimant --should be allocated for private use. Forestland is not a political commodity; it is a national ecological asset. Landless and river erosion-affected people must be rehabilitated on khas land, not inside forest areas.

Steps need to be taken for protecting the rights of indigenous communities.

While illegal encroachment must be addressed firmly, it is equally important that the traditional rights of forest-dwelling communities are recognised and preserved. "No harassment of local communities" should be more than a policy slogan -- it must be a guiding principle in all enforcement actions. Forest-friendly livelihoods, participatory forest management, and educational initiatives must be undertaken to bring communities into the fold of forest protection.

A collective responsibility is also essential. It is naive to expect the Forest Department alone to safeguard Modhupur. Protecting this ancient forest demands collaboration -- from government agencies, NGOs, indigenous leaders, environmental experts, and ordinary citizens. Schools, media, and local governments all have a role to play in raising awareness and fostering a sense of shared responsibility.

Time is running out for Modhupur. The forest that once defined the landscape of central Bangladesh -- rich with Sal trees, medicinal plants, and elusive wildlife -- is on the verge of extinction. But the story of Modhupur does not have to end in tragedy. With the right vision, political will, and community engagement, we can still reverse the tide of destruction.

Let this not be another tale of what we lost. Let it be a story of what we saved -- together. The restoration of Modhupur is not just about trees; it is about healing the relationship between people and nature. It is about ensuring that future generations can walk beneath the Sal canopy and hear the forest breathe again.

If we fail to act now, we risk losing not just a forest, but a living chapter of our environmental and cultural heritage. The time to save Modhupur is now.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh can earn $1b a year from carbon market: analysts

The information was revealed at a discussion on carbon financing organised by LightCastle Partners

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Bangladesh can earn $1b a year from carbon market: analysts

The information was revealed at a discussion on carbon financing organised by LightCastle Partners

Bangladesh has the potential to generate up to $1 billion annually from the global carbon market, but a lack of clear national policy continues to limit investment in the sector, analysts said at a discussion.

Despite some progress, including $17 million earned since 2006 through projects like improved cooking stoves and solar home systems, the analysts stressed the need for stronger policy direction to unlock the country's full potential.

The discussion, titled "Catalysing carbon financing in Bangladesh: private sector pathways and policy readiness," was held today in Dhaka and organised by international consultancy firm LightCastle Partners.

The event was organised to raise awareness among private sector leaders and investors about the country's readiness for carbon market participation and the implementation of Article 6 under the Paris Agreement.

At the event, Lincoln Teo, managing director of ZERO13, in his presentation emphasised Bangladesh's commitment to combating climate change, citing national goals to produce 16 percent of energy from renewable sources by 2030 and to reduce annual carbon emissions by 89.47 metric tonnes of CO₂e.

He said that achieving these targets would significantly support sustainable agriculture, water management, and overall economic growth.

"While we've set green financing targets and launched refinancing schemes, we must now strengthen public-private cooperation and follow international best practices, with strong banking sector support," said Ahmed Zubaer Mahmud, Additional Director of the Sustainable Finance Department of Bangladesh Bank.

Bijon Islam, CEO of LightCastle Partners, called for innovative financing models aligned with environmental and social impact.

"Carbon financing can unlock new investment channels. But we must rethink how we mobilise capital to support a low-carbon, inclusive economy," he added.​

 

[Saif]

Grabbers feast on Sonadia forest

Over 1,000 acres of protected mangrove forest on Sonadia Island in Moheshkhali upazila of Cox’s Bazar have been razed since August 5 last year.

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Grabbers feast on Sonadia forest
More than 1,000 acres of mangroves destroyed since August last year

A shrimp enclosure set up razing a section of the mangrove forest in Sonadia Island. Photo: collected​

• Encroachers cleared over 4,000 acres of forest​
• Encroachment continues defying SC order​
• Forest razed for shrimp and crab farming​

Over 1,000 acres of protected mangrove forest on Sonadia Island in Moheshkhali upazila of Cox's Bazar have been razed since August 5 last year.

The encroachment, aimed at developing enclosures for shrimp and crab farming, came to light recently when grabbers set fire to piles of felled mangrove trees at night in an attempt to destroy evidence of their illegal activities.

The incident, which defied a Supreme Court ruling issued last year, sparked public outrage and led to criticism of the authorities for their inaction.

The upazila administration said it has launched drives against the encroachers.

On May 18, the Department of Environment (DoE) filed a case against 20 individuals, including a local BNP leader and several leaders and activists of the now-banned Awami League, for encroaching on at least 112 acres of forest land.

Over the years, encroachers have cleared over 3,000 acres of Sonadia's mangrove forest and established 37 shrimp enclosures. Last July, the DoE filed a case against 26 individuals, mostly linked to the AL, for grabbing 128 acres of forest land. That move temporarily halted the encroachment.

However, the illegal activities soon resumed.

On November 28 last year, the SC upheld a High Court order that directed the government to immediately stop the destruction of mangrove forests on Sonadia and neighbouring areas.

Following a petition, the High court on October 23 ordered concerned government officials to demolish all illegal shrimp projects from Sonadia Island and neighbouring areas, take appropriate legal action against those involved in the destruction of the mangroves, and submit a compliance report before this court within 90 days.

SM Rubel, journalist and environment activist based in Moheshkhali, said the latest case filed by DoE significantly underestimated the land encroached by some influential people.

He claimed that more than 1,000 acres of mangrove forest had been razed since August 5.

"If you stand at the edge of the razed area, you cannot see the end of it," said Rubel, one of the 12 petitioners in the HC case.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Hedayet Ullah said the latest encroachments occurred after the fall of the AL-led regime on August 5 last year, during a period of administrative transition.

"Opportunists took advantage of the situation and grabbed forest land due to a lack of oversight," he said.

Since taking office on December 5, 2024, the UNO said he has monitored the situation, deployed forces to prevent further encroachment, and conducted five drives against encroachers on Sonadia.

He said a detailed report on about 50 illegal occupiers has been prepared and will be submitted to the High Court soon.

He also said an estimated Tk 5 crore is needed to permanently remove the 45-kilometre-long embankments built for the shrimp enclosures on the island.

The UNO added that the trees might have been burnt in preparation for the upcoming shrimp cultivation season, but did not disclose the total area of forest destroyed since last August.

Requesting anonymity, another official of the upazila administration said the total destroyed forest area may well exceed the figures mentioned in DoE cases.

"If there are about 30-35 shrimp enclosures in the island and each enclosure has 70-100 acres of land, the encroached land may exceed 3,000 acres. In some estimates the total grabbed land may reach 4,000 acres," he said.

In the latest case filed on May 18, Md Abdus Salam, senior chemist at the DoE's Cox's Bazar office, said the latest encroachment occurred in the Paschimpara and Purbapara areas of the island.

"We found evidence that the grabbers set fire to felled mangrove trees to erase signs of destruction," Salam said.

The 20 named accused include Alamgir Chowdhury, general secretary of Kutubjom Union BNP; Sheikh Kamal, chairman of Kutubjom Union Parishad; his brother Sheikh Alamgir; Abul Kalam, president of Ward 2 AL; Abdul Monaf, his nephew; Swechchhasebak League leader Imtiaz Uddin; AL member Azizul Haque; Sonadia UP member Ekram Mia; Mohammad Shamsher Ullah, cousin of former MP Asheq Ullah Rafiq; and 12 others. An additional 25–30 unidentified individuals were also named in the case.

According to the case statement, the accused committed offences under the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act by destroying mangroves in an ecologically critical area (ECA), building embankments, establishing shrimp and salt farms, and harming flora, fauna, and natural land and water features.

Maheshkhali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Kaisar Hamid said the DoE will investigate the case under the Environment Court Act 2010.

One of the accused, Sheikh Kamal Uddin, Kutobjom UP chairman and also an AL leader, denied his involvement.

"I was on the run after August 5, so how would I destroy the mangrove forest?" he said.

He claimed that his name had been included in the case by his political rivals to tarnish his image ahead of the upcoming union parishad election.He claimed to have joined anti-encroachment drives and said the encroachers are influential people of the Moheshkhali area, without identifying anyone.

Alamgir Chowdhury, secretary of Kutubjom union unit BNP, said the allegations against him were part of a conspiracy by his political rivals.

Contacted, Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Water Resources Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said the previous government in 2017 allocated 9,467 acres of land on the island to the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) for an eco-tourism park.

The land grabbers had already started burning down the forest and setting up shrimp enclosures, she said, acknowledging that the destruction continued even after August 5 last year.

"After taking charge of the office, my first initiative regarding Sonadia was to bring the land back under the Forest Department's control from BEZA," she said.

She said only one step remains to complete this process as Cox's Bazar district administration has cancelled the allocation to Beza.

"Once the forest is officially recorded under the Forest Department, it can exercise legal authority in the area," said the adviser.

She said the last incident of forest burning occurred on April 27 this year.

"Joint forces have carried out several raids and demolished a number of shrimp enclosures there," she added.

"A full-scale operation is now required. The Cox's Bazar deputy commissioner has been instructed to lead the effort," she said, adding that local administration, navy, and other forces will take part in the major drive.

Asked about the fund needed for demolishing the embankments that encroachers built for their "ghers" [shrimp enclosures], she said, "The government is working to secure the necessary funds. The embankments built by the occupiers must be dismantled."

On May 5 this year, the government officially cancelled the land allocation to BEZA to help restore the island's environment and biodiversity.​

 

[Saif]

Illegal hill cutting threatens Bandarban school

Illegal hill cutting in the Thoingyapara area of Balaghata union in Bandarban Sadar upazila has been disrupting academic activities at Thoingyapara Government Primary School.

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Illegal hill cutting threatens Bandarban school

Illegal hill cutting in the Thoingyapara area of Balaghata union in Bandarban Sadar upazila has been disrupting academic activities at Thoingyapara Government Primary School.

During a recent visit, this correspondent observed that soil from the hill on the eastern side of the school premises was being extracted with an excavator and transported by heavy trucks.

Locals alleged that the hill razing has placed the school at risk of damage from potential landslides during the monsoon, while the constant movement of trucks has severely damaged the school's playground and the adjacent road, putting students in danger of accidents.

They further claimed the illegal activity is causing serious harm to the local environment and disrupting classroom activities.

"During class hours, the loud noise of the excavator distracts the students. The road and playground in front of the school have become unusable due to the daily movement of heavy trucks. We plan to report this to the relevant authorities," said Chandan Kanti Debnath, headteacher of the school.

A local BNP leader named Nazim Uddin is allegedly operating the hill-cutting activities, deploying an excavator and five trucks over the past few days.

"Soil cutting from the hill has been going on from dawn till dusk for the past three days. The school, as well as our houses, are at risk of damage. The road has become deplorable due to truck movement, making it extremely risky for children to go to school," said Mongkyapru Marma, a local.

Several other locals echoed his concerns.

"Around 50 truckloads of soil are transported daily," said Saiful Islam Rimon, one of the truck drivers.

Contacted, Nazim Uddin, sub-contractor for the project, said the soil was being used to fill the site of a proposed new power sub-station near the Golden Temple area in Balaghata. "We have been working for the past three days," he added.

Asked whether he had obtained permits from the administration or the Department of Environment, he left the scene without answering.

Masum Ameer, executive engineer of the Bangladesh Power Development Board in Bandarban, said the new sub-station will be connected to Dohazari in Chattogram. The project is being implemented directly by the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh, he added.

Md Fayzul Islam, an assistant engineer of BPDB responsible for the project, said the new sub-station will serve as the primary power distribution centre in Bandarban.

Asked whether administrative or environmental clearance had been obtained for hill cutting and soil use, Fayzul declined to comment, saying the project director would know about it, and disconnected the phone call.

Nur Uddin, inspector at the DoE in Bandarban, said no permission was granted for cutting the hill.

"Now that we've been informed, steps are being taken to respond swiftly. Legal action will be taken in cooperation with the upazila administration," he said.

Bandarban Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Marufa Sultana Khan Hiramon said legal action will be taken against those responsible following an investigation into the matter.​

 

[Saif]

A blatant river grab

Piles of sand are stacked high, excavators are busy dumping loads, and trucks move in and out. The land is enclosed by towering concrete walls and fences. The skyline across the Dhaleshwari and Shitalakkhya turns hazy, as clinker dust first spirals into the air and then settles on the rivers...

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A blatant river grab
Confluence of Dhaleshwari and Shitalakkhya under siege from Shah Cement

In 2002, Shah Cement began its operations on a small piece of land in Mukterpur, a riverside village in Munshiganj Sadar Upazila. Two decades later, at least 24 acres of Dhaleshwari and Shitalakkhya river land are under the occupation of this massive industrial complex. The photo was taken in March this year. Photo: Rashed Shumon

Piles of sand are stacked high, excavators are busy dumping loads, and trucks move in and out. The land is enclosed by towering concrete walls and fences. The skyline across the Dhaleshwari and Shitalakkhya turns hazy, as clinker dust first spirals into the air and then settles on the rivers, polluting both the air and water.

This sprawling complex, with its towering structures standing ominously at the confluence of the two rivers in Munshiganj, is a stark reminder of unchecked river grabbing in Bangladesh.

Much of this patch of land belongs to the Dhaleshwari and Shitalakkhya, but Shah Cement has occupied parts of the two rivers affecting the ecosystem and the natural flows of the two rivers, according to four separate government reports.

The Munshiganj district administration and the National River Conservation Commission (NRCC) identified the cement factory as an "encroacher" in 2018, 2019 and 2023, documents show.

However, the government has yet to take any action to save the rivers.

In a written statement, Shah Cement, a concern of Abul Khair Group, denied that it grabbed any river land, but declined to share proof of its "ownership" of the land in the middle of two rivers.

"When I visited the Dhaleshwari and Shitalakkhya rivers [in December 2024], I saw that Shah Cement has encroached on the rivers. I immediately instructed the officials concerned to take effective measures."— Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain, Shipping Adviser.

ILLEGAL OCCUPATION

Shah Cement built the factory in 2002 and has expanded its operations deep into the two rivers over the years, according to documents and current and former officials.

According to the company's website, Shah Cement is one of the largest cement factories in Bangladesh, with a capacity to produce 10 million tonnes per year.

During multiple visits in February, March and April 2025, The Daily Star found that parts of the massive structures, heavy equipment and a storage facility stand at the mouth of the two rivers.

Munshiganj Sadar Assistant Commissioner's (Land) Office also confirmed that Shah Cement has occupied a huge swath of river land in Mirersharai Mouza in RS Dag No. 184 and in Purbo Mukterpur Mouza across RS Dag No. 301-308.

"We have already completed the survey and will serve a notice [on Shah Cement] upon completion of the investigation," Md Rezaul Karim, additional district magistrate of Munshiganj, told The Daily Star last night.

The Daily Star obtained the Revisional Survey (RS) records from the Munshiganj land office. These documents show that RS Dag (plot) No. 184 and RS Dag Nos. 301-307 are earmarked as river and riverbanks and are "owned by the Bangladesh government."

We were unable to collect the land record for RS Dag No. 308.

Before the cement factory was set up two decades ago, the Dhaleshwari thrived as a lifeline, drawing locals who fished, bathed, and depended on its waters for livelihood.

Residents of Mollar Char, a riverside village in Munshiganj, said that when the factory was first built, it started on a small piece of land. But during the dry season every year, it kept expanding by filling the river with sand—even at night.

The massive industrial complex of Shah Cement in Munshiganj. Photo: Rashed Sumon

On March 4, 2025, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) in a letter to the Munshiganj district administration said Shah Cement's sand-filling activities is creating navigation problems in the Shitalakkhya and Dhaleshwari route, obstructing the natural flow of the water and causing environmental damage.

"Several companies, including Shah Cement, are raising land by dumping sand and soil on the confluence, disturbing the rivers' flow. The navigability of the rivers has decreased, hindering vessel movement and raising concerns about environmental disasters," reads the letter.

Despite official instructions to remove the illegally dumped sand and soil, Shah Cement has yet to comply, it said, adding, "These activities violate the Port Act 1908, Port Rules 1966, and High Court orders."

The letter also cited a recent visit of Shipping Adviser Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain to the area when he "expressed dissatisfaction over the illegal occupation, and instructed the authorities to take action."

Contacted, Munshiganj Deputy Commissioner Fatema Tul Zannat, who took office in September 2024, said, "I have come to know about the allegations of illegal occupation of some river land by Shah Cement. Currently, a thorough investigation into the matter is underway. Necessary legal actions will be taken after on-site investigation and verification of records."

A TOP GRABBER

This is not the first time that government authorities are speaking publicly and exchanging letters about the encroachment.

Two years ago, on February 15, 2023, the Munshiganj district administration prepared a list and identified Shah Cement as a river grabber.

The list, signed by the then deputy commissioner and revenue deputy collector, shows that 15 companies occupied 34.96 acres of the Dhaleshwari river. Of this, Shah Cement alone had 24 acres under its occupation, making it the top grabber.

Earlier on May 6, 2019, the Munshiganj district administration prepared a list and identified Shah Cement among 50 river grabbers, saying that the company occupied river land in Mirersharai Mauza, under RS Dag No. 184.

"This list has been sent to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer concerned for necessary legal measures, including issuing notices, to evict the mentioned illegal occupants," reads the letter, signed by the then deputy commissioner.

The letter was sent to the National River Conservation Commission (NRCC), the legal guardian of all rivers in the country.

The NRCC itself identified Shah Cement as a grabber of the two rivers in its 2018 and 2019 annual reports.

In its 2018 report, the NRCC said that Shah Cement "is gradually occupying and filling up river land and has put up signboard on river char."

The following year, the NRCC annual report said, "Shah Cement Company has filled up around 24 acres of river land in Mirersharai Mouza, Munshiganj Sadar Upazila, under RS Khatian No. 1 and RS Dag number 184, effectively occupying the river land. The land classification has been altered by sand filling."

The report added, "The company has constructed a massive factory, disrupting the flow of the Dhaleshwari River on one side and the Shitalakkhya River on the other, threatening to engulf both rivers."

The encroached parts of the river will be recovered soon. The digital survey in the area is complete. Demarcation pillars will be installed soon — Mobarak Hossain, Deputy Director, BIWTA's Narayanganj River Port.

The report also noted that the factory discharges liquid and solid waste into the Dhaleshwari.
.
"This has caused serious damage to the river's water, environment, habitat, and biodiversity. The polluted water flows into the river through a large pipe, about four meters in diameter, directly from the Shah Cement factory…. The fly ash pollution has reduced fish, dolphins, and migratory birds," it said.

Contacted, former NRCC chairman Muzibur Rahman Howlader said, "I visited the area in 2019 and identified the factory as a river grabber. How does it continue to occupy the land for so long? The factory was set up by filling up two rivers. When I was NRCC chairman, I reviewed the CS and RS records and submitted a report confirming its illegal occupation."

Officials say the 2018 and 2019 NRCC annual reports and the 2023 list from the Munshiganj district administration, were based solely on RS Dag No. 184, where Shah Cement occupies 24 acres of river land. However, surveys conducted in December 2024 and early 2025 examined additional RS Dag numbers, suggesting that the total area of river land currently occupied by the company may exceed 24 acres.

Contacted, Supreme Court lawyer Manzill Murshid said that the High Court has declared rivers as living entities, which means the local administration has the authority to clear encroachments immediately.

"I don't understand why they haven't acted yet, especially after August 5," he said.

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said the interim government has selected 13 rivers to free from illegal occupation within its limited tenure in office.

"If the encroachment of these rivers is on this list, you may see results during our tenure," she told The Daily Star.

BIWTA's NarayanganjRiver Port Deputy Director Mobarak Hossain said that the encroached parts of the river will be recovered soon. "The digital survey in the area is complete. Demarcation pillars will be installed soon."

'RIVER SHIFTED COURSE'

The Daily Star has been in touch with Shah Cement since January 26, 2025, when we first sent a set of written questions via WhatsApp. The company requested an in-person meeting instead, and we sat twice with the company representatives on February 5 and 18 at their Gulshan office and shared our findings. We also shared some land-related documents and selected portion of government reports, as requested by the company.

Upon repeated requests, the company finally responded to our queries on February 26.

Based on its response and claim, we gathered further documents and obtained new information, which we again shared with the company and sought clarifications and comments on the new findings throughout March. But the company did not respond.

In the February 26 written response, Sheikh Shabab Ahmed, Head of Corporate Affairs and Legal, said the company upholds the highest standard in adhering to all laws of the country.

Shah Cement Company has filled up around 24 acres of river land in Mirersharai Mouza, Munshiganj Sadar Upazila, under RS Khatian No. 1 and RS Dag number 184, effectively occupying the river land. The land classification has been altered by sand filling— NRCC report, 2019.

"Most of the river encroachment claims are based on CS records. After that, several other land surveys, such as RS, SA, and BS were conducted both before and after independence of Bangladesh. Due to natural movement of rivers, its courses have shifted to new areas since the CS record. This change is reflected in the recent land survey documents as well.

"Based on this, a few disputes are still in the court, and some matters remain sub-judice. However, considering the various aspects of the issue, it would not be wise for any organisation to draw a conclusion without examining the matter holistically and taking all probable factors into consideration," the company said.

The Daily Star has collected the relevant Cadastral Survey (CS) and Revisional Survey (RS) records, which earmark the area as river land. We have also obtained the SA records, created between the CS and RS records. These SA records also classify most of the area as river land, with a small portion designated as house properties.

But the land ministry considers SA records "inauthentic as they were created based on information from the landlords, rather than through field survey."

Moreover, in a landmark verdict in 2009, the High Court concluded that river land-related disputes must be settled in line with the CS and RS records.

The verdict, in relation to the demarcation of the Buriganga, Turag, Balu and Shitalakkhya rivers, acknowledged that every river in Bangladesh changes its course over time.

"This is a unique characteristic of the rivers in Bangladesh. Therefore, to solve the issues raised in this writ petition, we first need to determine the boundaries of our rivers …. It is noteworthy that a Cadastral Survey was conducted in the early part of the 20th century before the Partition, and maps and records were prepared based on that survey.

"These CS maps and records are still the most reliable…. For this reason, we can consider the CS maps as the primary basis for determining the boundaries of the rivers. Therefore, the place where the river is shown on the CS map should be primarily recognised as river," the verdict reads.

Even if a river changes its course from the location shown on the CS map, and as a result of such change, if a char emerges on one side of the river included in the CS map, that char area will also remain under government ownership, the HC noted.

"In accordance with the above-mentioned legal position, the next steps in the river survey must be taken in accordance with the RS records and maps prepared by Bangladesh. The survey work [to determine river area] must be completed in two ways: firstly, according to the CS map, and secondly, according to the RS map," the verdict stated.

Manzill Murshid, who was a counsel for the writ petitioner Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh, said, "Land surveys like SA and BS do not provide any valid basis for identifying river land. In fact, the court has already issued a directive that river land should be identified based on the CS and RS records."

Despite repeated requests, Shah Cement did not say how much land it "owns" there or how much of the river land it rented for use with government approval.

It only said Shah Cement is one of the "highest rental paying companies of BIWTA in the country as we use foreshore near the adjacent rivers with due approvals from the authorities."

According to BIWTA sources, Shah Cement has been using foreshore land under a licence from the Narayanganj BIWTA Port Office since October 20, 2004, two years after the factory was set up. Currently, the company holds 11.28 acres of river foreshore land under the lease agreement, which expires in June this year.

Under the lease agreement, the company cannot fill up the river and its foreshore, cannot use additional river land, cannot change the riverbanks, cannot disrupt the navigability, cannot anchor ships haphazardly, and cannot dump waste into the river.

"Shah Cement is not complying with the terms of the agreement. They are gradually filling the river and foreshore by dumping waste, which is reducing the navigability of the river in that area. We occasionally visit the site, verbally instruct them to comply with the terms, and sometimes carry out evictions," a senior official of Narayanganj BIWTA Port Office told The Daily Star on April 13.

Contacted, Shipping Adviser Brig Gen (retd) Sakhawat Hussain rejected Shah Cement's claim that it is not a river grabber.

"When I visited the Dhaleshwari and Shitalakkhya rivers [in December 2024], I saw that Shah Cement has encroached upon the river. I immediately instructed the officials concerned to take effective measures," told The Daily Star in March.

Contacted again yesterday for an update, he said, "I instructed the officials concerned to start a survey to determine how much land Shah Cement and other factories have occupied there. I am not sure what actions have been taken so far, but I will definitely follow up on this matter."​

 

[Saif]

Choking on plastic: the planet's invisible epidemic

As we welcome another World Environment Day, we are once again reminded of our fragile connection to the planet we call home. It’s a moment to take stock – not just of vanishing forests or warming seas – but of the quieter, less visible crises unfolding all around us. This year&rs

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Choking on plastic: the planet's invisible epidemic

Babui Salsabil
Published :
Jun 05, 2025 01:20
Updated :
Jun 05, 2025 01:20

As we welcome another World Environment Day, we are once again reminded of our fragile connection to the planet we call home. It’s a moment to take stock – not just of vanishing forests or warming seas – but of the quieter, less visible crises unfolding all around us. This year’s theme, focused on land restoration and drought resilience, rightly urges us to restore what we’ve degraded. But what happens when the degradation isn’t just visible on the land, but woven into our food, our water, and even our bodies?

One of the most insidious threats to environmental and human health today is plastic pollution. From the depths of the oceans to the peaks of the Himalayas, from human DNA to fish in our rivers, microplastics have become a part of the global bloodstream. We have reached a point where the miracle material of the 20th century has turned into one of the defining environmental challenges of the 21st.

Each year, the world produces over 430 million tons of plastic. This staggering figure is not just a statistic; it’s a ticking environmental time bomb. Over two-thirds of this plastic becomes waste after a single use. Only a fraction is recycled.

The rest clogs our waterways, floats in our oceans, burns into our skies, and breaks down into particles so small they enter the food we eat and the air we breathe (UNEP Global Plastics Treaty).

The global plastic pollution crisis is no longer a distant environmental issue. It’s a public health emergency, an ecological catastrophe, and a socioeconomic injustice rolled into one. We are living in the Age of Plastic, and unless we act decisively, future generations will inherit a planet wrapped in it.

The Ubiquity of Plastic: Plastic is everywhere – packaging, electronics, clothes, vehicles, cleaning products. Its popularity is a testament to its affordability and durability. But that same durability – its resistance to degradation – is what makes it so destructive.

Since 1950, the world has produced over 9 billion tons of plastic. Only 9 per cent has ever been recycled. Nearly 80 per cent has accumulated in landfills, rivers, and oceans (Our World in Data). Microplastics – tiny fragments less than 5mm long –have been detected in human blood, lungs, breast milk, and in the fish we consume (UNEP INC-3).

We are only beginning to understand the long-term health impacts of chronic microplastic exposure. But early findings are worrying – these particles can disrupt hormonal systems, carry carcinogenic chemicals, and potentially cross the blood-brain barrier.

How Did We Get Here: This crisis didn’t explode overnight. It was fuelled by a global economy built on a disposable culture. Major petrochemical companies have aggressively expanded plastic production, with projections indicating a 40 per cent increase by 2040 (WWF & Systemiq, 2023). Industries, especially in the Global North, have driven mass consumption of single-use plastics under the guise of convenience.

Ironically, the burden of waste management falls largely on the Global South. Countries like Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Kenya receive enormous volumes of plastic waste – often labelled “recyclable” but too contaminated to process – resulting in open burning or uncontrolled dumping (Human Rights Watch, 2022; UNEP 2021).

In many regions, plastic pollution disproportionately affects low-income communities, women, children, and informal waste pickers. When plastics are burned in open environments – common in low-resource settings – they release toxic chemicals like dioxins, furans, and heavy metals, linked to respiratory diseases, cancer, and developmental disorders (UNEP 2021).

The Social and Economic Cost: Plastic pollution is not just environmental – it’s deeply social. People living near plastic production or incineration sites face disproportionate health risks. Waste pickers, who perform the essential task of collecting and sorting recyclables in many developing countries, often work without protection, exposing themselves to physical and chemical hazards (Global Alliance of Waste Pickers; GAIA Zero Waste Cities).

Globally, plastic pollution is costing us billions. Tourism, fisheries, and agriculture – all reliant on clean environments – suffer massive losses due to plastic-contaminated landscapes and waters. The United Nations estimates plastic pollution could cost the global economy over $300 billion per year by 2040 (WWF & Systemiq, 2023).

What Can Be Done: The solutions must be as bold as the crisis. Internationally, the United Nations Environment Programme is leading negotiations for a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty, with a final agreement due by the end of 2025 (UNEP INC-4). The treaty aims to reduce plastic production, phase out single-use plastics, and improve waste management.

But laws alone won’t suffice. Governments must act decisively by banning unnecessary plastics – such as sachets, bags, straws, and non-essential packaging. Bangladesh, for instance, was the first country to ban plastic bags in 2002, yet enforcement has been uneven (UNEP 2021). Robust policy enforcement and public education must go hand in hand.

Corporations must be held accountable. Major plastic producers and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies must reduce plastic use and invest in sustainable packaging. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes – where producers are legally required to fund collection and recycling – should become global standards (WWF Global Treaty Call).

We also need massive investment in waste infrastructure, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Philanthropic and multilateral funding should support community-based circular solutions that improve livelihoods, protect the environment, and create green jobs (GAIA).

Informal workers must be recognised as central players in plastic solutions. Models like those supported by the Global Alliance of Waste Pickers show that when waste pickers are formalised, paid fairly, and protected, recycling systems become far more efficient and equitable (GlobalRec).

Technology has a role but is no silver bullet. Bioplastics and chemical recycling show promise but must be rigorously vetted for sustainability, scalability, and unintended consequences.

Ultimately, behaviour change at the individual level also matters. Consumers can reduce plastic use, demand zero-waste alternatives, and hold corporations and governments accountable.

Time Is Running Out: Plastic, once hailed as a miracle material, has become one of the defining environmental challenges of our time. Its impact transcends borders, social classes, and ecosystems. But while the crisis is global, the solutions are within reach.

If we fail to act, by 2050 there could be more plastic in the ocean than fish by weight (World Economic Forum, 2016).

Microplastics could contaminate every corner of the Earth, from Arctic ice to the deepest ocean trenches. We risk locking ourselves into a toxic legacy that future generations will struggle to undo.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

This is our moment to choose a different path – a path of sustainability, justice, and common sense. Tackling the plastic pollution crisis is not just about cleaning up our planet. It’s about protecting our health, restoring our dignity, and reclaiming the right to a liveable future.

The plastic epidemic is no longer invisible. The only question is: will we do something about it before it’s too late?

Babui Salsabil is an international development practitioner currently working at the World Bank Group headquarters in Washington, D.C. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not reflect the views of the organisation.​

 

[Saif]

BNP pledges five key steps to safeguard environment: Tarique

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Wednesday said the party will take five key steps to protect the environment if elected, aiming to build a greener, cleaner Bangladesh. “In light of today’s escalating climate crisis and worsening industrial pollution, a pragmatic and forward-looki

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

BNP pledges five key steps to safeguard environment: Tarique

UNB
Published :
Jun 04, 2025 21:51
Updated :
Jun 04, 2025 21:51

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Wednesday said the party will take five key steps to protect the environment if elected, aiming to build a greener, cleaner Bangladesh.

“In light of today’s escalating climate crisis and worsening industrial pollution, a pragmatic and forward-looking national strategy is more needed than ever. Should the BNP be entrusted once again with the responsibility of governing, we pledge to undertake the following actions to safeguard Bangladesh’s environment,” he said in a post on his verified Facebook page on Wednesday on the eve of the World Environment Day 2025.

The five steps include (1) to develop a National Green Recovery Plan with a strong focus on reforestation (planting 250 to 300 million trees within the next five years), renewable green energy, and sustainable agriculture; (2) to ban harmful plastics and toxic chemicals, while promoting biodegradable alternatives across industries and households; and (3) Launch a comprehensive dredging and restoration programme for rivers and canals to combat waterlogging and protect aquatic ecosystems.

The two remaining actions are (4) to support climate resilient agriculture and infrastructure in the country’s vulnerable southern regions, helping communities adapt to the effects of climate change; and (5) to integrate environmental education into school curricula to build a generation of environmentally conscious citizens.

Tarique Rahman said Bangladesh, by virtue of its geography, is blessed with extraordinary natural beauty and ecological diversity. “It is therefore our solemn duty to preserve this rich environment for future generations.”

He said from its very inception, his party has been recognised as an environmentally conscious party. “Over the years, we have championed initiatives including widespread tree plantation drives, canal excavation and maintenance projects, and active campaigns to restrict the use of harmful plastics.”

He said BNP founder, President Ziaur Rahman, launched the Environment Pollution Control Project in 1977, an initiative that later evolved into what is now the Department of Environment. Continuing this legacy, BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia introduced the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act in 1995 and established the country’s first Environmental Courts, pioneering legal mechanisms for ecological protection.

Noting that environmental conservation is not a luxury rather it is a necessity, The BNP acting chairman called upon all to come together across political and social boundaries, to build a sustainable Bangladesh, one where future generations inherit a land that is green, livable, and resilient.

“Let us plant the seeds of hope, protect our air, water and soil, and safeguard the future for all,” Tarique Rahman added.​

 

[Saif]

Waste and opportunities

THE population of the capital Dhaka increases. So does pollution. The menace of vector-borne diseases also increases with with the increased pollution. A study says that 6,500 tonnes of waste is produced daily in the capital city. The disposal of this huge amount of waste is important. The study...

www.newagebd.net

Waste and opportunities
05 June, 2025, 00:00

Dustbins were put in the city, in the north and the south area, in 2016 and people were supposed to put garbage in a specified place to reduce pollution. But, the dustbins do not exist now, writes Md Golam Sharower

THE population of the capital Dhaka increases. So does pollution. The menace of vector-borne diseases also increases with with the increased pollution. A study says that 6,500 tonnes of waste is produced daily in the capital city. The disposal of this huge amount of waste is important. The study also says that about 55 per cent of waste are disposed of daily which causes severe environmental pollution. It has made the city life intolerable. Mosquitoes and flies spread rapidly.

The affected people lose money. If 55 per cent of the daily waste is not disposed of, the whole city will become dirty. That is why people in Dhaka cannot just in the open air without holding their nose nose even for five minutes. There are some places, where polluted air causes severe inconvenience. The canal to the west side of the Shia Mosque at Mohammadpur is an example. When the air that flows over the canal enters houses, no resident can remain comfortable.

A total of 11,000 dustbins were put in the city, in the north and the south area, in 2016. People were supposed to put garbage in a specified place to reduce pollution. Now, the dustbins do not exist. Similarly, 100 smart dustbins were set up at Gulshan but they have now become permanent dustbins. Solid waste is also a cause of soil and water pollution. Medical and electronic wastes play a greater role in environmental pollution. The situation is is anybody’s guess from the surroundings of public hospitals. It is, therefore, important to go for a good management. For an example, at least 30 thousand tonnes of additional waste are produced in the city during Eid-ul-Azha. Extra preparations are needed to dispose of the extra waste. Otherwise, the situation would add to the mosquito menace.

Now, the monsoon season has set in early. Vector-borne diseases such as dengue and chikungunya have already made their mark. All concerned should, therefore, work a bit more to remove the animal waste during Eid-ul-Azha. The vehicles that carry wastes and the people who dispose of the waste should remain careful. Landfills are also open. So, life is difficult for people living near the landfills such Amin Bazar and Matuail. As the city has grown in an unplanned manner, cleanliness workers of city authorities cannot enter the allies between houses in many neighbourhoods. And, such places become dirty.

In wastes, live numerous organisms, including bacteria, which serve as a source of many pathogens. About 55 per cent of the waste is disposed daily. How is it possible to get rid of the situation? China produces 1,18,645MW, the United States 71,714MW, Germany 57,200MW, the United Kingdom 41,794MW and India 45,795MW of electricity from waste a year. So, waste has potential to generate power in Bangladesh, too. In Dhaka, about 6,500 tonnes of waste and in other cities and large towns 17,000 tonnes of waste of waste are generated daily. Data show that the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority has its own 300-kilometre underground drain network. It is the time to make Dhaka city aesthetic with proper waste management.

Dr Md Golam Sharower is a professor and head of entomology at the National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dhaka.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh to observe World Environment Day June 25

Bangladesh will observe World Environment Day on June 25 instead of June 5, as Eid-ul-Azha holiday has already begun in the country...

www.newagebd.net

Bangladesh to observe World Environment Day June 25
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Dhaka 05 June, 2025, 21:03

Representational image. | BSS photo

Bangladesh will observe World Environment Day on June 25 instead of June 5, as Eid-ul-Azha holiday has already begun in the country.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change chalked out different programmes to mark the day on June 25.

This year’s theme of the day is ‘Say no to plastic pollution - it is time to act’.

Chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus is expected to attend the main event as the chief guest at the Bangladesh-China Friendship International Conference Center in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital.

The chief adviser is also expected to inaugurate the National Tree Plantation Campaign and the month-long Tree Fair and Environment Fair by planting sapling on the occasion.

Besides, he will confer the National Environment Awards and the National Awards for Tree Plantation and Wildlife Conservation among recipients.

To raise public awareness against environment pollution, the theme and the slogan of the World Environment Day 2025 will be broadcast as scroll messages on Bangladesh Television as well as all private TV channels and electronic media.​

 

[Saif]

'Bangladesh has emerged as a key learning hub for regional climate resilience'

Says ICIMOD DDG Izabella Koziell marking World Environment Day

www.thedailystar.net

'Bangladesh has emerged as a key learning hub for regional climate resilience'
Says ICIMOD DDG Izabella Koziell marking World Environment Day

Izabella Koziell

Bangladesh has emerged as a key learning hub for regional climate resilience, said Izabella Koziell, deputy director general at regional organisation -- International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) -- headquartered in Nepal.

"Despite its high vulnerability to climate change, Bangladesh has established numerous good examples of community-led adaptation strategies that can serve as inspiration for those experiencing similar issues in the region," she said.

In an email interview marking the World Environment Day, Izabella Koziell shared with The Daily Star the challenges and potentials of Bangladesh in terms of mountain development, preserving the rivers and regional cooperation.

TDS: We, in Bangladesh, rarely hear the term "mountain development". Can you please explain it?

Koziell: Mountains are characterised by extreme terrain — and their remoteness and shifts in elevation have given rise to unique cultures and biodiversity. In a warming planet, with rapid demographic changes, these fragile environments and societies are under growing pressures — to conserve nature while supporting livelihoods and combatting poverty. We use the umbrella term "mountain development" for the innovation, testing, and scaling of the most appropriate methods and approaches to meet people's development aspirations and needs while protecting biodiversity and safeguarding investments in infrastructure, such as roads and hydropower.

TDS: Bangladesh has two hill regions – Chittagong Hill Tracts and Sylhet. What specific challenges do they face?

Koziell: The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) and Sylhet are both vulnerable to climate change, although their issues are distinct due to their terrain and location. CHT is undergoing rapid change due to population pressures, agricultural expansion, and increased domestic tourism. Traditional cropping systems are being displaced by permanent agriculture, and unregulated tourism is endangering biodiversity-rich landscapes, rural villages, and fertile farmland. The unchecked development of hotels, businesses, and infrastructure poses a threat to lakes in CHT, forests landscape, and sensitive ecosystems. Springs and springheads an essential source of water for local communities, are also drying up. The region's unstable hillslopes are under increasing strain from environmental uncertainty, human activity, and climate change, unsustainable land use, and significant issues for populations that rely on these ecosystems.

Sylhet meanwhile faces increasing climate-related risks, including flash floods, waterlogging, and wetland degradation. Heavy rainfall and upstream river flow frequently submerge low-lying haor areas, damaging crops and fisheries. Unplanned urban growth and changing land use further strain its sensitive wetland ecosystems and rural livelihoods. The recent floods in Sylhet tell many stories about the impact of climate change.

TDS: Is ICIMOD doing anything in the CHT?

Koziell: We have undertaken a project — Green, Resilient, and Adaptive CHT Economy (GRACE) project that will use $10 million funding to help the most vulnerable hill communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) — and help it become more resilient to climate change. It will support the development of nature-based solutions and community-driven climate adaptation strategies following the direction of Bangladesh's National Adaptation Plan. The project aims to support establishment of more climate-resilient infrastructure, for example, improved retention ponds, restoration of springs and groundwater recharge systems in the water-scarce upazilas (sub-district units). Additionally, GRACE will improve the capacity of local governments, women, and youth to actively participate in climate-resilient development, disaster risk mitigation, and adaptation planning.

TDS: Bangladesh is a land of rivers but many of them are dying. What are your suggestions to prevent this trend?

Koziell: There must be urgent, stricter regulation, enforcement, and penalties for discharge and landfill. But what is also important is that steps are taken to maintain and sustain natural water flows upstream of Bangladesh – in the headwaters of Bangladesh's rivers. At higher altitudes, temperature rise is changing the pattern of snow and glacial melt that feed these rivers, it's also changing the intensity of rainfall, and groundwater recharge. These changes, as well as encroachment on river basins and other land use changes, are having a huge knock-on effect on downstream communities, with increasing risks from floods, land erosion, and salinity.

At ICIMOD we are promoting "integrated river basin management" (IRBM) approaches. We have also been calling for an urgent stepping up of scientific collaboration on rivers, and for the harnessing of local and Indigenous knowledge in water governance. We also strongly press for sustainable land use — which means curbing haphazard and unplanned development, as well as reducing deforestation, shifting cultivation, which will help reduce habitat loss and sedimentation of rivers. At a more macro level, no single country can tackle these alone. ICIMOD has, therefore, been facilitating processes that enhance regional collaboration among Hindu Kush Himalayan countries, as well as for presenting a unified voice in global forums.

TDS: How can ICIMOD help foster cooperation between nations as transboundary water management is critical for South Asia?

Koziell: ICIMOD, as a neutral convener, has engaged in significant efforts to foster transboundary water cooperation over its last 41 years by serving as a regional knowledge centre and as a science-policy bridge. Through our work on Resilient River Basins (RRB), ICIMOD promotes inclusive, climate-resilient approaches to water governance. By enabling structured collaboration and dialogue, the initiative helps countries shift from fragmented responses to shared strategies for addressing climate and water challenges in the Hindu Kush Himalayan transboundary basins. ICIMOD has helped facilitate the establishment of river basin networks that build trust and cooperation among riparian nations. ICIMOD also advances joint understanding through basin-scale assessments, vulnerability mapping, and integrated planning tools. By enabling data-driven decisions and fostering mutual learning, ICIMOD supports more cohesive and climate-resilient water governance across South Asia.

TDS: What role can Bangladesh play in regional climate resilience, particularly given its vulnerability and proactive adaptation strategies?

Koziell: As I said, Bangladesh has established numerous good examples of climate change adaptation. Early warning systems for floods and cyclones, together with a vast network of cyclone shelters, have saved countless lives and demonstrated that effective adaptation is feasible even with limited resources. Many nature-based solutions in Bangladesh are directly related to our National Adaptation Plan (NAP) intervention menu. Planting trees along key highways, such as the Dhaka-Chattogram Road, for example, helps mitigate climate impacts, protects infrastructure from intense heat, and increases biodiversity, while also improving air quality for Bangladesh and beyond.

The GRACE project's actions in mountainous regions, such as the CHT, will focus on restoring springs, safeguarding watersheds, promoting agroforestry, stabilising slopes, and introducing climate-resilient farming methods, all of which are based on Bangladesh's NAP adaptation guideline.

TDS: What would be your message to young Bangladeshi girls who aspire to be environmental leaders, scientists, or advocates?

Izabella Koziell: Women and girls there are often the hardest hit by the impacts of climate change. We need talented young women at the table. My message to aspiring Bangladeshi environmental leaders is – Remember that women everywhere are already "shaping a sustainable future" through conservation and innovation in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan Region. Pursue education and hands-on experience. Join networks (e.g. youth climate groups, science clubs, women's entrepreneur trainings) and learn from mentors. Every skill you gain multiplies your ability to protect the environment. By empowering women on the front lines, embracing gender-inclusive governance, and encouraging young female leaders, we create more just and effective environmental policies for all.​

 

[Saif]

Why change must start with people

On World Environment Day, the conversation around plastic pollution takes centre stage.

www.thedailystar.net

Why change must start with people

The global plastic treaty being negotiated, as reported in IISD’s Earth Negotiations Bulletin, is a welcome step. PHOTO: STAR

On World Environment Day, the conversation around plastic pollution takes centre stage—globally, in treaty rooms and international campaigns, and locally, as we stare at rivers choked by waste and fields littered with non-biodegradable remnants of daily survival. But too often, we isolate the plastic crisis from the human beings at its centre: the families, farmers, vendors, and millions for whom plastic is not a convenience but a necessity—a needed tool for carrying goods to work on a rainy day, building shelter to withstand torrential rains when there is no roof overhead, or simply storing belongings when even a tin trunk is unaffordable.

Plastic must be removed from our lives, for it kills—whether through choking rivers and oceans, or through the CO2 emitted in its production. But this can only happen when alternatives become reachable for the unrecognised faces who use it daily, not just for ease but for necessity. In a country like Bangladesh, where the vast majority live on the edge of survival, affordability and availability dictate choice. The conversation around alternatives must begin by asking: What will people use instead? And how will they afford it? If those answers remain unclear, expecting sudden behavioural shifts or blanket bans is not only unrealistic, it is unjust.

We need to find a solution that is both humane and environmentally responsible. We cannot presume to restrict plastic use only through regulation. We must provide alternatives and instil an understanding of the harm it causes, especially among those who rely on it most. People must feel connected to the cause, to understand that this is about protecting the rivers, the land, and the environment we all share. When the message speaks to the heart, not just through statistics or enforcement, it inspires collective responsibility. That is where real, lasting change begins.

Today, we speak of climate treaties and plastic bans. But unless the state becomes personal—unless the farmer understands why it matters to him, unless the mother in a char village sees what plastic waste might do to her child's future—we will not see real transformation. A policy that asks millions to give up a necessity must not descend like an order. It must rise from understanding, built through empathy and communicated in language that respects people's lives and acknowledges their realities.

The global plastic treaty being negotiated, as reported in IISD's Earth Negotiations Bulletin, is a welcome step. But it must not absolve us of our responsibilities at home. Plastic is already having an incredibly negative impact on the quality of our lives. Our rivers are clogged. Our waste systems are inadequate. While international consensus can help us gain legitimacy in our actions, we are already suffering daily from the lack of regulation and alternatives. We cannot wait for consensus to take shape. We need to act now—but act wisely—so that the millions who rely on plastic today are able to shift to alternatives, even if those alternatives are not yet as useful.

At the same time, we must resist imported narratives that do not fit our context. Western countries, with their histories of industrial growth, carbon emissions, and pollution, have created much of this crisis. But this is not about them feeling guilt. Guilt can be brushed aside—by individuals, by corporations. What we must appeal to is conscience. One person's conscience can lead hundreds to positive action. If there is to be a global commitment to healing, it should not be framed as reparations for the past, but as a response to the suffering of the present. Let conscience, not compensation, guide the way forward.

Back home, we must learn to see the nuances. Not all plastic is single-use or wasteful. In Bangladesh, we reuse everything. A plastic bottle may be used for months. Plastic furniture allows families to live with dignity. On a recent visit to a shop in Kachua, I was handed a plastic bag labelled "100 percent biodegradable." Bioplastics like those being developed by Sonali Bag may hold promise. But we must ensure that sustainability does not become another form of inequality, where the poor are penalised for using what they can afford, while the rich purchase expensive "eco" products.

Even a seemingly progressive decision, such as banning plastic and requiring only glass in offices, raises valid questions. The intention is noble. But how do small businesses comply? What happens to vendors who cannot afford the transition? Policy without inclusion becomes exclusion.

So, what should we do?

We must begin with awareness that respects, not lectures. Speak to people in their own language—not only linguistically, but through their lived experience. Show them that if the rivers are blocked, if the fish die, if the soil degrades, their own lives will be affected. And then, crucially, provide real alternatives. No one wants to harm the environment. But no one should be forced to choose between dignity and sustainability.

It is possible to mobilise people—especially the young—when they feel part of a collective mission. It is possible to educate without blame. To act without alienating. To build, not just ban.

Let us mark this World Environment Day not with more slogans, but with sincerity. Let us appeal not just to policies and politics, but to the hearts of people. Because only when environmental responsibility becomes personal, deeply human and emotionally understood, will we begin to see real change.

Let us make the state personal. Let us make conscience our most powerful policy.

Runa Khan is founder and executive director of Friendship.​

 

[Saif]

World Environment Day: A story of memory and nature

There are people who protect our little spaces so that they can be green again.

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World Environment Day: A story of memory and nature

File photo: STAR

I want to share a story about a little girl and a tree. A beautiful krishnachura tree, reaching the fourth floor balcony of a house and hiding it away from the urban sprawl, but not enough that moonlight couldn't peek through. A tree that was a friend to that little girl living on that balcony. In spring, the blooms would set ablaze in red in that little corner, and summers would be kinder to the girl as the shade of green would protect the space from the scorching sun. For years, that tree was a friend to her. The passing of the seasons and the changes in foliage were a part of her life, and they were friends—they both knew it.

And one day, just like that, the tree was gone. Cut down to make space for growth. More than a decade of kinship, torn apart in the span of a week.

It's the kind of loss that lingers with you. It's the kind of loss that is hard to explain to a child but must be understood by an adult. The numbness that comes up to cope with this loss is something that is reflected in all of us, wouldn't you say? Living in a concrete jungle that is Dhaka, I wonder: when did we stop caring for the small things that make life, life? When did we stop romanticising the rain? Was it when the entire city got flooded and the day was ruined on a monsoon day? When did we stop listening to the birds? Was it when they stopped coming to us, to an almost uninhabitable city? When did we stop caring for the soil we walk on? Was it when it started being covered in asphalt for so long that we forgot what lies beneath?

Amid all this, a story that sticks with me is a memory. A memory of Amena apa, whom I met in Noakhali a few years back. She invited my family for lunch, and I remember looking at her old glass jars of jams and jellies filled with seeds—some small, some big, but all sitting in airtight containers. She told me about how she stores seeds so that she does not forget how things are meant to taste. It was very normal for her community to store seeds. They would keep them as a contingency for when floods hit. Some would call this a resilience model, but to her it is just how things are.
"We look out for each other," she said. This is something I could never relate to. When I moved away from my maternal home, the houses I lived in, I never knew who my neighbours were. We sometimes met while getting out of our doors, in the garage, maybe sometimes walking on the road, but we never spoke. We never had that community feeling. It is also just how things are for most of us living in Dhaka.

Most things in Dhaka have little meaning to us. There are no parks to walk in, no water bodies to sit beside and forget our worries. No open space for children to learn about the birds that come in winter, no connection of the spirit to the earth. Our days are spent thinking about the next traffic jam, even thinking about how to survive the next day. Living in such fight-or-flight mode brings out apathy in us even more strongly.
Today is World Environment Day, a day that holds a reminder of all these thoughts. But it's also a day when I am reminded that, despite mass apathy towards the environment, there are still people who care.

There are people who protect our little spaces so that they can be green again, people who remember to be mindful enough to care. Their actions lie in quiet choices, in how we walk through the world, and with the world.

Those people remember the smell of wet earth after the first rain, how it makes them stop, just for a moment. They remember the silence that hung after a storm passed, when even the birds paused to breathe. They remember the thrill of picking a mango, sticky-handed, from a tree that had stood there longer than them. They let their memories be an anchor, and remind them of who they were, and who they still could be. They care, because they remember. They remember how the environment matters, and how we matter within it.
Now the question is, do you remember?

Raida A. K. Reza is doctoral researcher at United Nations University's Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES), Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (IOER), and Technische Universität Dresden. She is the founder of Zero Waste Bangladesh (ZWBD).​

 

[Saif]

Why mass awareness matters for environmental protection

Mass awareness is crucial to protect environment as it is being polluted in various ways including single-use of plastic bottles. The environment is also being polluted due to liquid waste from factories, waste from kitchens and restaurants, smokes from vehicles and brick-kilns. Battery-run...

en.prothomalo.com

Why mass awareness matters for environmental protection

Rabiul Islam
Journalist at Prothom Alo
Updated: 05 Jun 2025, 21: 19

A worker sorts used plastic bottles at a recycling unit in Karachi on 12 September, 2024. AFP file photo

Mass awareness is crucial to protect environment as it is being polluted in various ways including single-use of plastic bottles.

The environment is also being polluted due to liquid waste from factories, waste from kitchens and restaurants, smokes from vehicles and brick-kilns. Battery-run rickshaws also cause environment pollution.

According to a study, plastic bottles remain in the environment for up to 450 years. These release microplastics and toxic chemicals into ecosystems and food chain.

However, there is no strong waste management system in place in the country. So the mass awareness can play a significant role to protect environment from pollution.

Environment and Social Development Organisation (ESDO), a non-profit action research organisation, in a recent study reveals that the country generates maximum 3.84 billion of single-use plastic bottles every year. Only 21.4 per cent can be recycled. The rest 78.6 per cent end up in rivers, sea and dumping stations.

As a result, plastic waste along with others causes health and environmental risks. Waste from kitchens and restaurants also clog drains resulting in water logging and environmental damage.

However, only 18.4 of urban consumers and 5.5 per cent of rural consumers are aware of the health risks caused by the plastic bottles, the study says.

On the flip side, only 3.4 per cent of waste collectors are aware of the environment pollution due to plastic bottles.

In view of the consequences of health and environmental hazards, awareness can play a key role in combatting the single-use plastic.
People in general across the country discard plastic bottles without understanding its environmental impact and ultimate health hazard.

While chatting with a senior journalist friend, he shared an experience of the awareness of German people about the environment in Germany. He said he tossed a bit of foil paper on the street from a cigarette packet as there was no bin nearby. Immediately a German woman picked it up and dropped it into a bin at distance. There is hardly any such awareness in our country.

Moreover, most of the households discard plastic bottles and polythene as solid waste. But this could be different if the plastic bottles and polythene were separated from the rest and then recycled.

In this context, the government and non-government organisations can play an important role in creating mass awareness. The government can launch massive campaign about the environmental and health hazard of plastic bottles. A social campaign engaging political parties, local communities and schools, colleges and university students can also be taken across the country to create awareness among the people.

Earlier, voluntary organisations and scouts would launch campaigns about the environment pollution. But those activities are not seen now-a-days. But those activities could be revived. Given the degradation of environment, the government should chalk out various programmes to create awareness about the environment pollution.

Various committees at the ward, union, upazila and zila level can be formed to implement the programmes. These committees can hold rallies and discussions on the health and environment hazards of the plastic bottles.Moreover, the government can make policies and formulate laws to reduce the production of plastic bottles on the one hand and fine those who discard these bottles here and there.

The political parties have also a responsibility to carry out mass campaigns to create awareness among the people. But it is noticed that the political parties hardly bother with these social activities. But it is urgent to save the environment to lead a healthy and peaceful life free from environment pollution. People have been suffering from various diseases like cancer, asthma and more due to environment pollution.

Alongside carrying out studies and research on the environment pollution, the government can immediately take some steps to fight environment pollution. Mass campaigns can be one of the steps that can help reduce environment pollution. It is expected that the government will in no time do something for the environment and the human beings.

*Rabiul Islam is a journalist at Prothom Alo.​

 

[Saif]

The silent plastic crisis in rural Bangladesh

Plastic pollution is not solely an urban issue.

www.thedailystar.net

The silent plastic crisis in rural Bangladesh

While cities like Dhaka and Chattogram often dominate discussions on plastic pollution, the rural and peri-urban areas of Bangladesh bear a silent but severe brunt. PHOTO: ANISUR RAHMAN

Sumon runs a small tea stall. Every morning, he wades through ankle-deep plastic waste—a growing pile of discarded bottles, wrappers, and bags that clog the drains around his shop. "When it rains, the market floods because the drains are blocked with plastic," he says. "Business drops, and so does our hope for a cleaner place."

While cities like Dhaka and Chattogram often dominate discussions on plastic pollution, the rural and peri-urban areas of Bangladesh bear a silent but severe brunt. In rural Bangladesh, plastic waste infiltrates rivers, irrigation channels, and croplands, disrupting daily life and livelihoods. Yet, this reality rarely garners attention.

It is believed that Bangladesh produces approximately 87,000 tonnes of single-use plastic waste each year, and nearly 22 percent of this originates from rural areas. There is a notable lack of awareness regarding the environmental and health risks associated with plastic waste in rural areas. For instance, only 5.5 percent of rural consumers are aware of the health risks posed by single-use plastics, compared to 18.4 percent in urban areas. These facts highlight that plastic pollution is not solely an urban issue.

Of the plastic waste generated in Bangladesh, only 36 percent is recycled, leaving the rest to accumulate in open dumps, water bodies, and agricultural lands, exacerbating waterlogging and soil degradation. In rural areas, plastic waste mixed with crop residues blocks irrigation channels, starving crops of vital water flow. Additionally, plastic debris gathers around sluice gates, worsening persistent waterlogging.

For local farmers and traders, these seemingly small disruptions add up, impacting both their income and the local ecosystem. The impacts are further compounded by the surge in single-use plastics. Despite a ban on plastic bags in 2002, single-use plastic consumption has increased by 200 percent over the last decade, with rural areas increasingly bearing the consequences.

The government's National 3R Strategy was a step towards tackling the plastic menace through reducing, reusing, and recycling waste. However, its implementation at the grassroots level remains largely on paper. Local government institutions, particularly union parishads and municipalities, are supposed to lead the charge in managing plastic waste. But resource constraints, limited technical capacity, and a lack of structured waste management plans hinder their effectiveness.

Despite these challenges, small-scale initiatives in Bangladesh are emerging as potential game changers. The informal sector collects around 1,000 tonnes of plastic waste daily, significantly contributing to recycling efforts. However, the lack of formal recognition and support limits their impact. We are seeing the private sector also stepping into this domain. In Dhaka, for instance, Standard Chartered Bank launched a plastic exchange programme, allowing community members to trade plastic waste for cash or essentials. Replicating this initiative in rural areas could motivate grassroots communities to engage in waste collection while creating local income opportunities.

Encouragingly, a number of development platforms are working with the private sector. They are collaborating to establish and institutionalise market-centric collection hubs for plastic waste, incentivising traders to segregate and deposit waste for recycling. Such initiatives show how grassroots engagement can foster a culture of environmental responsibility, even in areas with limited waste management infrastructure.

But to effectively tackle the long-standing plastic pollution situation in rural and peri-urban areas, a few good examples are not enough; we need collective efforts and mutually benefitting strategies. First, local governments need targeted support to incorporate plastic waste management into local development plans. Waste segregation at the source, coupled with community-based recycling hubs, can lay the groundwork for more structured waste management systems.

Second, engaging local entrepreneurs in waste recycling can transform plastic from a pollutant into a resource. With technical training and seed funding, they could establish small recycling units that create useful products like eco-bricks or compost bins. In Indonesia, fishing villages have turned to innovative solutions like eco-bricks—plastic bottles filled with non-biodegradable waste used as building materials to manage plastic waste effectively. These initiatives highlight the potential of local actions in combating plastic pollution.

Third, educational programmes in schools and community centres can instil sustainable habits from an early age, reinforcing the principles of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. In Cox's Bazar, school collection systems have already been set up to teach children about waste segregation and composting, showing how early intervention can cultivate lasting environmental responsibility. Covering two climate hotspots—Naogaon and Satkhira—the WaterAid–Swisscontact consortium has engaged school-level students in clean-up campaigns, waste segregation activities, and educational programmes to instil sustainable waste practices.

Lastly, public-private partnerships must be leveraged to provide the necessary infrastructure and incentives for waste management. One example is Practical Action's initiative in Faridpur, where a circular economy approach is employed to transform previously unprofitable waste into valuable commodities. In this initiative, low-grade plastics collected from the Padma River and local communities are processed using pyrolysis technology, converting them into high-grade oil and black carbon, thus creating employment opportunities and improving waste workers' livelihoods.

We must keep in mind that the fight against plastic pollution extends far beyond urban centres. The crowded markets of a remote union in the south and the irrigation fields of the north are not just bearing the brunt of plastic pollution; they are also fertile grounds for solutions. With the right support, rural communities can transform from passive victims to active change-makers, driving localised recycling initiatives, championing waste reduction, and adopting sustainable practices.

Saief Manzoor-Al-Islam and Sabbir Rahman Khan are development practitioners.​

 

[Saif]

Bamboo as an eco-friendly alternative to wood

Search for more environment-friendly and sustainable alternatives to many familiar practices is now the trend of the time. And as a country highly vulnerable to environmental hazards, it is an imperative that Bangladesh should opt for such alternatives for as many sectors of the economy as possible

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Bamboo as an eco-friendly alternative to wood

SYED FATTAHUL ALIM
Published :
Jun 16, 2025 23:54
Updated :
Jun 16, 2025 23:54

Search for more environment-friendly and sustainable alternatives to many familiar practices is now the trend of the time. And as a country highly vulnerable to environmental hazards, it is an imperative that Bangladesh should opt for such alternatives for as many sectors of the economy as possible. With the woodlands of the country diminishing fast, the country can no more afford the luxury of cutting down its timber trees primarily for construction or woodwork. This refers to both the trees being grown for the purpose of timber and the natural forests where there are standing trees suitable for harvesting as timber. In this connection, the Adviser for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, during her first office day after the Eid holidays stressed the use of bamboo to make furniture instead of wood. Though bamboo is not wood, but a kind of fast-growing hollow-stemmed plant, it is nevertheless used in ways similar to wood. It is definitely a green alternative to synthetic materials like plastic. And by popularising bamboo as a major ingredient of furniture, pressure on wood can be reduced. Bamboo, which is a member of the Poaceae, that is, grass family, grows in abundance in the country's tropical climate. Use of bamboo in the rural area is widespread as a building material for thatched houses, i.e. those with their roofs made from dried grass or straw. However, with the expatriate workers from rural families sending remittance from abroad, the dominant trend in the countryside now is to replace thatched houses with tin sheds on cement floors. Such houses are considered a symbol of status. So, one can see fewer main dwellings or primary residences with thatched roofs on bamboo walls in the rural areas nowadays. Of course, sitting rooms, maybe kitchens and cowsheds still have thatched roofs. Be that as it may, bamboo has a hundred and one other uses as handicrafts including bamboo mats (chatai), winnowing fans, flat baskets (dalas), fishing traps, sieve or strainers (chaluni), toys, musical instruments, to name but a few. It has also its industrial use as a raw material (bamboo pulp) for paper mills. Once there were entire rural communities in the past whose main occupation was making various household articles from bamboo. One would come across such bamboo-made articles at the village haats or fairs. The traditional arongs, or large Bengali New Year's day village fairs, are the special events when village communities like the nolos (people whose occupation is making various household items from nol, or reed) would sell their bamboo works. Notably, bamboo is also a kind of reed. Needless to say, the survival of such communities who crafted items from bamboo encompassing a wide range of applications from carpentry, furniture-making, weaving to construction was possible only because the countryside in the past had natural bamboo grooves in large numbers.

Unfortunately, with the ever-receding forestlands due to urbanisation, the natural bamboo bushes, too, are getting thinner by the day. In that case, replacing wood with bamboo for making furniture, as the Adviser for Environment has suggested, cannot be a feasible option depending wholly on the still existing natural bamboo groves. The government will have to invest generously in this sector, incentivise entrepreneurs to commercially grow bamboo bushes. Of course, that has to be done without seizing or harming croplands.​

 

[Saif]

undefined | The Financial Express

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Ministry plans to sell 2.8m jute bags at subsidised rates

REZAUL KARIM
Published :
Jun 17, 2025 00:30
Updated :
Jun 17, 2025 00:30

The Ministry of Textiles and Jute (MoTJ) has come up with a plan for selling 2.8 million pieces of jute bags at subsidised prices for the purpose of carrying commodities as alternative to poly-bags.

To this effect, the ministry has sought necessary steps from the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) for marketing such jute bags among the consumers of the capital city through the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB).

A project has already been undertaken under the MoTJ in this regard with a view to producing about 2.8 million pieces of such jut bags, official sources said.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting, held at the MoTJ on May 19 with its Adviser Sk. Bashir Uddin in the chair.

The main purpose of the initiative is to promote and encourage the use of environment-friendly jute bags as an alternative to polythene bags for the sake of protecting environment.

The project has been undertaken with the funding support of Bangladesh Climate Change Trust (BCCT), according to officials.

Under the project, about 2.8 million pieces of jute bags will be sold at subsidised prices in Dhaka Metropolitan City for the purpose of carrying commodities, according a document prepared by the MoTJ.

The Department of Jute (DJ) under the MoTJ is implementing the project, it was learnt.

But it is not possible for the department alone to complete the sales of such jute sacks due to the lack of its necessary manpower and experience to this effect, it mentioned.

As per the decision of the meeting, the commerce ministry is to issue necessary instruction to the TCB in this regard, a senior official of the DJ said.

When contacted, a commerce ministry official said: "We have received a letter from textiles and Jute ministry with regard to taking necessary steps for distributing such jute bags by the TCB."​

 

[Saif]

How climate change rewrites crimes along coast

IN THE at-risk southern region of Bangladesh, fierce winds and rising rivers cause more than just home and farmland damage. Climate change, poverty, and social disintegration are quietly increasing crime, a worrying trend that is often overlooked. Policy responses prioritise rescue, relief, and...

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How climate change rewrites crimes along coast
Abrar-Bin-Shoukat Alvi 18 June, 2025, 00:00

IN THE at-risk southern region of Bangladesh, fierce winds and rising rivers cause more than just home and farmland damage. Climate change, poverty, and social disintegration are quietly increasing crime, a worrying trend that is often overlooked. Policy responses prioritise rescue, relief, and infrastructure repair, but climate change-induced criminality is neglected. Satkhira officials saw an increase in thefts of livestock and emergency supplies after Cyclone Amphan in 2020. A 13-year-old girl disappeared from a cyclone shelter in Dacope, Khulna, during the 2021 monsoon season, sparking speculation about abduction and trafficking. Sarankhola Upazila residents in Bagerhat are increasingly turning to illegal activities like logging and poaching to survive land degradation. Lawlessness is rising alongside climate disasters. These issues are still ignored in disaster planning, turning this emerging crisis into a silent epidemic.

Criminological breakdown: theories behind the trend

CRIMINOLOGICAL insights are significant in this context. Academics have consistently contended that instability, scarcity, and inadequate institutional oversight exacerbate criminal activity. Shaw and McKay’s Social Disorganisation Theory illustrates the increase in crime when both formal and informal social controls are ineffective. In the congested cyclone shelters of Satkhira and Khulna, where privacy is limited and law enforcement is lacking, incidents of molestation and harassment targeting women and young girls have escalated.

Cohen and Felson’s Routine Activity Theory posits that crime is most probable when three conditions are satisfied: a motivated offender, a suitable target, and the absence of a capable guardian. All three are frequently encountered following a disaster. Dispersed, at-risk families are susceptible targets. In the absence of patrols or shelter oversight, particularly during nighttime, numerous individuals are susceptible to minor theft and abduction.

Merton’s Strain Theory elucidates how societal pressures and restricted access to legitimate opportunities may compel individuals to pursue criminal alternatives. Saltwater intrusion has devastated shrimp farms in southern Bangladesh, while storms have obliterated fishing nets. A significant number lack income. In this void, illegal logging, wildlife poaching, and trafficking emerge as means of survival.

Patterns in crime: data and local trends

FIELD research in disaster-prone areas shows that molestation is the most reported crime after a disaster, peaking in October during shelter overcrowding. Lack of supervision, drug abuse, and poverty contribute. Theft, especially of relief materials, livestock, and boats after floods, is another trend. Most disturbing is the rise in child trafficking. Khulna and Satkhira reports show a sharp rise in missing children after major climate events, many of whom are trafficked into cities or across borders.

After the disaster, crime mapping shows Maheswaripur in Khulna, Hazarkhali in Bagerhat, and Gabura in Satkhira as hotspots. Crime thrives in these areas due to resource scarcity, weak institutions, and climatic shocks.

Human stories and local insights

PERSONAL stories show this crisis. Fatema Begum of Dacope, Khulna, recalls the night her daughter disappeared in the 2021 floods. Our school was crowded after the flooding. Police and door locks were absent. She said, ‘My daughter just disappeared one night. Hundreds of families watch their children disappear into trafficking networks.

Local police recognise the gap. ‘During disasters, we’re spread thin,’ said a police officer in Satkhira. He added, ‘Rescue and logistics are our top priorities. Since staff and resources are scarce, crime prevention is neglected.’

Young people may be most at risk. Closing schools and losing jobs make many youth vulnerable to influence. Others commit petty theft or join organised smuggling networks along Bangladesh’s porous southern borders.

Economic trigger

THESE trends are driven by devastating economic losses. Research by RSIS International (2023) found that per-household damage averages BDT 12,368.82 for housing, 14,887.34 for crops, 14,345.21 for property, and an astonishing 35,916.66 for business. These numbers represent broken lives, abandoned livelihoods, and a community falling deeper into poverty with each storm.

Limited long-term rehabilitation worsens the situation. After a disaster, crime cycles thrive without stable employment, education, and mental health services. Desperation becomes deviant behaviour, and temporary coping mechanisms become permanent threats to social order as poverty grows and state support is patchy.

Policy gaps and urgent needs

BANGLADESH rarely prioritises crime prevention in its disaster response framework, despite the crisis. Shelters lack basic security. The ministry of disaster management and the ministry of home affairs lack coordination. No systematic data collection exists for climate change-related crimes, making targeted policies harder to implement.

Integrating criminological perspective into climate response

BANGLADESH must rethink disaster response criminologically to address the following complex issues: 1) Incorporate crime prevention into national disaster plans, such as mobile policing, surveillance, and gender-sensitive shelter supervision. 2) Enable local youth and NGOs to serve as community watchers during disaster recovery, addressing enforcement gaps. 3) Enhance border control to reduce trafficking, particularly in high-risk areas like Satkhira. 4) Promote livelihood restoration through vocational training, microcredit, and psychosocial counselling to reduce stress-related crimes. 5) Support academic research on climate-related crime trends for evidence-based policymaking.

Storm beyond the storm

SOCIAL erosion accelerates with the climate crisis. Environmental vulnerability and rising crime are a reality in southern Bangladesh. We must combine disaster resilience with criminological insight to protect our most vulnerable communities from the next storm of violence, theft, and lost innocence. The next cyclone may destroy more than homes. Broken laws, broken lives, and a new crisis cycle may result. Policy action must be taken immediately.

Abrar-Bin-Shoukat Alvi is a law student at the Bangladesh University of Professionals.​

 

[Saif]

No development project should harm nature: Chief Adviser

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday called for safeguarding natural ecosystems during the execution of development projects. During a meeting at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka, he instructed the officials concerned to ensure that water bodies remain “unharmed and unint

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No development project should harm nature: Chief Adviser

FE Online Desk
Published :
Jun 18, 2025 21:54
Updated :
Jun 18, 2025 22:54

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday called for safeguarding natural ecosystems during the execution of development projects.

During a meeting at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka, he instructed the officials concerned to ensure that water bodies remain “unharmed and uninterrupted” throughout implementation of the ‘Teknaf to Tetulia Integrated Economic Corridor Development’ project, prepared by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The meeting featured presentations by ADB Country Director for Bangladesh, Hoe Yun Jeong, and officials from the Economic Relations Division (ERD), who detailed the vision, strategy, and implementation process of the corridor project, reports BSS.

The initiative aims to facilitate inclusive and sustainable economic transformation through an integrated approach to infrastructure, industrial growth, logistics, and regional connectivity along Bangladesh’s southeast-to-northwest transport network.

Key attendees included Road Transport and Bridges Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy on International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi, Principal Coordinator for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Affairs Lamiya Morshed and Principal Secretary Siraj Uddin Mia.

Chief Adviser Prof Yunus underscored three critical focal points for the project: preservation of water bodies, consideration of population distribution, and enhancement of international connectivity.

“We must remember that Bangladesh is a delta. We don’t want to interrupt our water flow. Our first priority is our rivers. We would go all the way in a different direction if it’s necessary,” he stated.

“We must keep in mind the location of our population when it comes to any construction. Ours is a flood-prone country. So, we need to work in a way that ensures the river doesn’t get clogged,” the Chief Adviser said.

“We must avoid building roads in locations that would worsen the flood situation. During floods, people try to find safety on roads, bridges, and railways. So, it’s not just a bridge; it’s people’s safety as well,” he added.

“And the third thing is international connectivity. We want to create an investment hub here. So, make sure that roads don’t stop here. We also want to connect neighboring countries, including Nepal and Bhutan. Because that’s the future,” Prof Yunus said.

He further stated, “We are the children of nature. We don’t want to destroy it. We want to live in it.”

To ensure environmental considerations are integral to the project, the Chief Adviser directed the team to include water experts and develop a comprehensive master plan.

Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan highlighted the importance of environmentally conscious development.

“We need to build our projects without harming nature. We’ve seen the negative consequences, like the massive road in the haor region that ultimately devastated the local ecosystem and led to severe flooding for residents,” he said.

The ‘Teknaf to Tetulia Integrated Economic Corridor Development’ project represents a significant step towards sustainable infrastructure development in Bangladesh, balancing economic growth with ecological preservation.​

 

[Saif]

Hilsa threatened by microplastics

The hilsa is a gourmet's delight for its unique taste, distinctive flavour and high nutritional value. It is not just a great delicacy but a symbol of national pride, feted as the national fish. Bangladesh takes pride as the world's largest hilsa-producing country, with this aquatic treasure largel

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Hilsa threatened by microplastics

Atiqul Kabir Tuhin
Published :
Jun 19, 2025 00:01
Updated :
Jun 19, 2025 00:01

The hilsa is a gourmet's delight for its unique taste, distinctive flavour and high nutritional value. It is not just a great delicacy but a symbol of national pride, feted as the national fish. Bangladesh takes pride as the world's largest hilsa-producing country, with this aquatic treasure largely being exclusive to the region's rivers and coastal waters. But how would you feel if this most sought-after and beloved fish species falls victim to pollution? Deeply shocked and dismayed? Well, that's precisely what has happened. Researchers from the University of Dhaka and Shahjalal University of Science and Technology found microplastic particles in hilsa caught at river mouths in Bangladesh. Moreover, they also detected harmful heavy metals like cadmium, lead, mercury, and arsenic in the fish. This poses not only a serious existential threat to the hilsa population but also a grave risk to human health and national food security.

Led by Professor Gawsia Wahidunnessa Chowdhury of Dhaka University, the study found plastic particles smaller than 5 millimetres - known as microplastics - lodged in the intestines, liver, and even muscle tissues of the fish. These particles originate from common plastic waste such as bags, bottles, synthetic clothing fibres, tyre residue, and even cosmetics. Once they enter rivers and oceans, fish ingest them either directly or through the food chain.

Contamination of hilsa lends credence to the United Nation's warning that without urgent action microplastics will infiltrate every ecosystem on Earth, including the human body. Currently, the world produces approximately 350 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, and an estimated 12 million tonnes of this plastic ends up in the ocean. And the UN warns that without immediate action, the amount of plastic entering the ocean annually could reach 37 million metric tonnes by 2040. So, apart from climate change, plastic pollution is considered the worst form of environmental threat globally. Considering the gravity of the problem, this year the World Environment Day was observed with the theme of "Ending Plastic Pollution."

In Bangladesh, plastic pollution is growing fast driven by factors such as population growth, urbanisation, and changes in consumer behaviour. According to World Bank study in 2021, Bangladesh's annual per capita plastic consumption in urban areas has tripled from 3.0 kg in 2005 to 9.0 kg in 2020. The rising use of plastic contributes to increased plastic waste, including single-use plastics (SUPs), which easily break down into microplastics and are often dumped into drains, canals, and rivers. This not only blocks drainage systems and causes flooding or waterlogging, but also poses a significant risk to aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity.

To tackle the growing plastic pollution, polythene and polypropylene bags were banned over two decades ago. However, the ban was never strictly enforced. Stakeholders have often cited the lack of alternatives, public unawareness, black-market activity, and weak regulatory enforcement as key reasons for the failure to ban single-use plastic. The interim government has made a renewed attempt to impose a ban on polythene bags in supermarkets from October 1, 2024, and set a phased target to eliminate other single-use plastics. While the government's initiative is commendable, enforcement remains a critical challenge. Laws alone cannot solve the problem. What is urgently needed is the large-scale production and marketing of alternative jute and paper bags, along with efforts to bring about behavioural change among the public.

In this regard, BRAC University's ambitious initiative to eliminate single-use plastic is not only worth-mentioning but highly commendable. The university aims to transform itself into a zero-waste, plastic-free campus through enhanced recycling programmes, the elimination of single-use plastics, and the promotion of sustainable alternatives. This proactive step by an educational institution serves as a powerful example. Other universities, as well as various public and private institutions, would do well to follow suit. They can promote a plastic-free work environment by banning single-use plastics and replacing them with sustainable alternatives such as glass, metal, or paper products. Chief Adviser's office has already adopted such practice, setting a positive example for others to follow.

However, the solution does not solely rest on individual or institutional goodwill. The government should effect a paradigm shift in its approach to waste management, recycling infrastructure, and the production of sustainable alternatives. Institutional capacity in these areas will significantly influence the broader economy, investor confidence, and consumer habits.

At present, only a small fraction of plastic waste is properly disposed of or recycled owing to inadequate collection systems, poor waste segregation, and insufficient recycling facilities. Experts are of the view that segregation at the source must be made mandatory, particularly in rapidly growing urban centres like Dhaka and Chattogram. Smart recycling hubs with integrated systems for collection, sorting, and reuse should be developed. Here, government policy, private innovation, and civic participation must go hand in hand.

Then, the financial institutions have a critical role to play to help accelerate the transition towards environmental sustainability. According to Bangladesh Bank, banks and financial institutions disbursed approximately Tk 1.17 trillion in sustainable financing during the April-June quarter of 2024, which is significantly more than what was disbursed in the previous quarter. If such financing is strategically channelled into eco-friendly, technology-driven, and plastic-alternative ventures, it could yield enormous social and environmental benefits. Here it is noteworthy that Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) provides easy access to finance for small entrepreneurs engaged in producing biodegradable products. Bangladesh could implement similar incentives through the SME Foundation and SME units of commercial banks.

In a word, individuals, families, communities, businesses, and governments all have a role to play in the fight against pollution. Failure to act will allow it to continue choking our rivers, endangering marine life, and threatening public health, where even the treasured national symbols, like the hilsa, become a casualty.

​

 

[Saif]

WASH budget cut deepens inequality, threatens safe water access: Experts

Experts have warned that the declining budget allocation for Bangladesh's Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector could severely undermine efforts to guarantee citizens' constitutional rights to safe water and sanitation. The concern was raised during the launch of a joint policy brief by the

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WASH budget cut deepens inequality, threatens safe water access: Experts
Budget fell from Tk 182.28b in FY 23 to a proposed Tk 109.01b for FY 26

FE REPORT
Published :
Jun 18, 2025 09:02
Updated :
Jun 18, 2025 09:02

Experts have warned that the declining budget allocation for Bangladesh's Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector could severely undermine efforts to guarantee citizens' constitutional rights to safe water and sanitation.

The concern was raised during the launch of a joint policy brief by the Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC) and WaterAid Bangladesh at a press conference held at the PPRC office in the capital's Dhanmondi area on Tuesday.

The policy brief highlighted a sharp fall in WASH allocations, dropping from a peak of Tk 182.28 billion in FY2022-23 to a proposed Tk 109.01 billion for FY2025-26.

Although the figure reflects a slight increase from the revised budget of Tk 91.41 billion in FY2024-25, experts say it remains insufficient given the country's mounting WASH challenges.

"The downward trend in allocation undermines the state's commitment to guaranteeing access to water and sanitation," said Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, executive chairman of PPRC.

"Water and sanitation are not merely technical concerns; they are fundamental human rights, essential for health, dignity, and climate resilience."

Disparities in the proposed allocation also drew criticism.

Dhaka WASA alone is slated to receive over Tk 31.4 billion, while the Department of Public Health Engineering, tasked with ensuring national WASH coverage - especially in rural and underserved areas - faces a reduction in funds.

Only seven out of 12 city corporations received allocations in the proposed budget, leaving out major cities such as Rajshahi, Rangpur, Cumilla, and Sylhet.

Within urban areas, Dhaka North and Gazipur continue to receive disproportionately high shares, exacerbating intra-urban inequalities.

Partha Hefaz Shaikh, director of Programme and Policy Advocacy at WaterAid Bangladesh, said, "Despite commendable progress in eliminating open defecation, the WASH sector still faces inefficiencies in water quality, sanitation infrastructure, and the added burden of climate change."

While the budget includes promising signs for areas like Fecal Sludge Management (FSM) and climate adaptation, allocations for essential services such as water supply and sanitation infrastructure have declined.

Rural and hard-to-reach regions, including the chars, remain largely excluded from meaningful investment, the brief noted.

Representatives from various partner NGOs also attended the event and called for a more inclusive and equitable distribution of resources that reflects the scale of needs across both urban and rural Bangladesh.​

 

[Saif]

An accurate forecast of global warming made 112 years ago

The buildup of carbon dioxide and other GHGs in the atmosphere has elevated global temperatures to perilously high levels.

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An accurate forecast of global warming made 112 years ago

The effect of carbon dioxide, the major greenhouse gas (GHG), is no longer “considerable.” It is out of control; it has thrown us into a feedback loop from which there is no exit. FILE PHOTO: Reuters

An August 14, 1912 article in the New Zealand newspaper The Rodney & Otamaeta Times contained a story about how burning coal might cause global warming by adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. The story reads, "The furnaces of the world are now burning about 2,000,000,000 tons of coal a year. When this is burned, uniting with oxygen, it adds about 7,000,000,000 tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere yearly. This tends to make the air a more effective blanket for the Earth and to raise its temperature. The effect may be considerable in a few centuries."

The effect of carbon dioxide, the major greenhouse gas (GHG), is no longer "considerable." It is out of control; it has thrown us into a feedback loop from which there is no exit. So we won't have to wait a "few centuries" for the Earth to become a furnace. Indeed, the prediction made more than 112 years ago essentially validates the seemingly bleak future that we are staring at with trepidation.

The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which serves as the most dependable measure of the global community's advancement towards a secure future, experienced the most significant annual rise from 421.1 ppm in 2023 to 424.6 ppm in 2024. The record increase in 2024 was fuelled by a variety of factors, including record-high GHG emissions, diminished carbon absorption by natural sinks like tropical forests, and the release of vast quantities of carbon dioxide due to wildfires.

The annual rate of increase over the past 60 years is nearly 100 times more rapid than previous natural increases that happened at the end of the last Ice Age, around 11,000 to 17,000 years ago. The concentration now exceeds 50 percent of the levels recorded before the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century, meaning the amount of carbon dioxide is now 150 percent of its value in 1750. For the first time, the global average concentration of carbon dioxide surpassed 430 ppm in May this year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The last time the planet had such high levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was probably more than 30 million years ago, well before humans inhabited the Earth and during an era characterised by a significantly different climate.

The buildup of carbon dioxide and other GHGs—methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases—in the atmosphere has already elevated global temperatures to perilously high levels. The current global mean is around 15 degrees Celsius, encompassing the range from the coldest poles to the hottest deserts. The most relevant reference for the current warming trend is the more recent Pliocene Epoch, which spanned from 5.3 million to 2.6 million years ago. During the mid-Pliocene, atmospheric carbon dioxide levels were comparable to those of today, resulting in heat retention and an increase in global temperatures, about two to three degrees warmer than today.

In 2024, temperatures exceeded those of 2023, making it the hottest year on record. The ten warmest years on record since 1850 have all occurred in the last ten years. Thus, extreme weather events, elevated sea levels, intensified droughts, out-of-control wildfires, deadly storms, and devastating floods, along with detrimental effects on wildlife and critical natural ecosystems, reached unprecedented levels, highlighting the escalating risks of climate change. Besides, warmer temperatures are allowing invasive species and pests to spread, while putting pressure on animals that need a colder climate. Also, the ocean has absorbed enough carbon dioxide to reduce its pH by 0.1 units, resulting in a 30 percent rise in acidity.

An increasing number of climate scientists now believe that achieving the 1.5-degree-Celcius target by the end of this century, as specified in the 2015 Paris Agreement, is unattainable because of escalating carbon dioxide emissions. To provide a context, the temperature has already increased by at least 1.1 degrees Celsius since 1880.

The World Meteorological Organization predicts that the global mean surface temperature for each year from 2025 to 2029 will range from 1.2 to 1.9 degrees above the pre-industrial average. Researchers at the Irish Climate Analysis and Research Unit expect the probability of passing 1.5 degrees on a sustained basis by the late 2020s or early 2030s to reach 100 percent in the next two to three years.

A recent study published in Earth's Future, a transdisciplinary open-access journal, warns that a major effect of a projected rise of 1.5 degrees in global temperature, even temporarily, will be an irreversible shift in global rainfall patterns, potentially affecting nearly two billion people across equatorial regions. Some areas may become deluged while others, particularly Southeast Asia, Northeast Brazil, and parts of Africa, could see dramatic declines in rainfall. As a consequence, people who live in areas that rely on seasonal rainfall for hydroelectric power, drinking water, and farming will be at systemic danger. Delicate ecosystems that depend on regular seasonal moisture cycles, such as savannas and rainforests, are also at risk from the changes.

Ocean and atmospheric systems respond slowly, even in the event of a drop in global temperatures, opening the door to permanent changes. Agriculture, freshwater resources, and food security are increasingly at risk as rainfall becomes unpredictable and uneven across regions. This is a cascade situation that will impact the global food chain, public health, migration, and the energy supply. These systems are unlikely to recover once they are disturbed.

It is now a truism that global warming begets more warming. Hence, the effects of climate change will worsen with every fraction of a degree of warming. In fact, the rapid progression of climate change is driving our planet towards the edge of becoming uninhabitable. As a result, the challenges presented are varied, formidable, and interrelated, ranging from extreme heat to rising sea levels and increased storm surges along the coastal regions. Yet, instead of confronting the challenges posed by climate change, the majority of national governments, international organisations, private sector entities, and non-profit organisations are choosing to ignore the situation.

So, what does our future look like? If we want to keep our planet inhabitable, the most straightforward approach is to significantly reduce GHG emissions immediately, thereby averting the Earth's transition into a new climatic state that would have catastrophic effects on humanity. Otherwise, we will soon have a true glimpse of our overheated future―a world in which no one would want to live.

Dr Quamrul Haider is professor emeritus at Fordham University in New York, US.​

 

[Saif]

Rizwana calls for constant efforts for normal flow of Dhaka canals

Water resources and environment, forests and climate change adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has called for continuing the ongoing efforts to ensure the normal flow of water in Ramchandrapur and other canals surrounding the capital city and increase public awareness on this issue.

www.newagebd.net

Rizwana calls for constant efforts for normal flow of Dhaka canals
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Dhaka 22 June, 2025, 01:16

Water resources and environment, forests and climate change adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan inspects the cleaning drive conducted to restore the normal flow of the Ramchandrapur canal at Adabar in Dhaka on Saturday. | Press release photo

Water resources and environment, forests and climate change adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has called for continuing the ongoing efforts to ensure the normal flow of water in Ramchandrapur and other canals surrounding the capital city and increase public awareness on this issue.

She said this after inspecting the cleaning drive conducted to restore the normal flow of the Ramchandrapur canal at Adabar in Dhaka on Saturday.

On the concluding day of the two-day cleaning drive, Rizwana Hasan and DNCC administrator Mohammad Ejaz inspected the cleaning drive and encouraged the volunteers.

Mohammad Ejaz said that cleanliness was not just an activity but a civic responsibility. ‘Common people, voluntary organisations and government institutions must work together to protect the canals.’

Ejaz said that all the canals of the city, including the Ramchandrapur canal, were linked to existence of the people.

‘DNCC activities are not only limited to cleaning the canals but also building a sustainable management through curving pollution, beautification and involving the citizens with the activities,’ he said.

The Ramchandrapur Canal cleaning campaign is being implemented by the voluntary organisation Footstep. More than 300 volunteers and DNCC cleaning workers participated in the campaign, which was conducted under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Dhaka North City Corporation and in collaboration with IDLC Finance.​

 

[Saif]

Can Bangladesh’s urban drainage survive climate change?

Beneath the rising waters lies a tangle of institutional dysfunction and impunity that sabotages effective action.

www.thedailystar.net

Can Bangladesh’s urban drainage survive climate change?

The drainage blueprints still in use were designed decades ago for a different climate and a far smaller population. FILE PHOTO: FIROZ AHMED

The sky rips open, and within an hour, Dhanmondi is knee-deep—not just in puddles, but in a murky, swirling current that transforms familiar streets into treacherous rivers. The roar of car engines gives way to the slosh of water, and the vibrant life of Dhaka grinds to a halt. Just a few hours of rain, and our cities become aquatic ghost towns. Students, their hopes for exams drowned by the rising tide, stare despondently from waterlogged apartments. Rickshaw-pullers, their livelihoods quite literally afloat, huddle under makeshift shelters. Small businesses—the lifeblood of our communities—watch helplessly as their inventory succumbs to the invasive floodwaters. What happens when the monsoon truly peaks? More critically, what is the actual, agonising state of our drainage systems?

This recurring nightmare is no accident—it is the by-product of Bangladesh's rapid, unplanned urbanisation, where drainage infrastructure has failed to keep pace with city expansion. In Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet, and Barishal, even moderate rain now triggers widespread waterlogging. The roots of this crisis are threefold. First, rampant encroachment on canals, floodplains and wetlands—nature's own drainage systems—has throttled water flow, turning once-broad channels into clogged trickles. Second, the drainage blueprints still in use were designed decades ago for a different climate and a far smaller population. Today's intense rainfall and relentless concrete sprawl quickly overwhelm systems built for 25–30 mm per hour, while actual downpours often double that. Third, overlapping mandates among key agencies—WASA, city corporations and RAJUK—have created a maze of fragmented responsibilities. No one is fully accountable, and coordination is virtually absent. This toxic mix of encroachment, outdated design, and bureaucratic disarray turns every rainstorm into a disaster, drowning infrastructure and livelihoods alike.

The relentless urban flooding we witness today is not merely a consequence of poor planning—it is the unmistakable, undeniable face of climate change manifesting as urban chaos. Beyond the widely discussed threats of rising sea levels and coastal erosion, Bangladesh is now grappling with erratic rainfall patterns, sudden cloudbursts, and increasingly extreme weather events that overwhelm city infrastructure within minutes. Our metropolises, already strained by haphazard growth, are now confronting a new, intensified hydrological reality. Yet, despite Bangladesh consistently ranking among the most climate-vulnerable nations on the Global Climate Risk Index, national adaptation discourse remains disproportionately focused on rural resilience and coastal defences. Urban centres—dense with population and economic assets—remain dangerously under-prioritised. This blind spot in planning and policy is no longer just an oversight; it is a critical vulnerability that leaves millions exposed to cascading climate risks. Recognising the urban flood crisis as part of the climate emergency is not optional—it is long overdue.

If climate change is the accelerant, then poor governance is the kindling. Beneath the rising waters lies a tangle of institutional dysfunction and impunity that sabotages effective action. When Dhaka North goes underwater, blame ricochets from WASA to the City Corporation to RAJUK—yet no agency is held accountable. This bureaucratic merry-go-round ensures that drainage failures are met not with reform, but with finger-pointing. Despite ballooning budgets for drain cleaning and flood prevention, there is little transparency about where the money goes—and even less public trust in how it is spent. Meanwhile, unregulated construction continues to encroach on canals, wetlands and stormwater routes with near-total impunity. Developers routinely fill up vital water bodies, and legal enforcement is either toothless or non-existent. This systematic erasure of natural drainage not only worsens flooding—it cements it as a feature, not a flaw, of urban life. Until we fix who governs water, we will continue drowning in the consequences.

The grim reality demands not just recognition of the problem, but a swift and transformative shift towards comprehensive solutions. Crucially, this involves embracing nature-based solutions that work with, rather than against, our natural hydrology. This means aggressively reviving and restoring our choked canals, turning them back into functioning arteries for water flow instead of stagnant waste receptacles. Furthermore, we must actively pursue the creation of urban retention ponds and expand green spaces that can absorb excess rainfall, acting as vital sponges during deluges. Innovations such as green roofing and permeable pavements must become standard practice in urban development, allowing water to infiltrate the ground naturally rather than overwhelm drainage systems.

We do not need to reinvent the wheel; successful models exist globally. Singapore's ABC Waters Programme—which integrates water bodies into the urban landscape for both drainage and recreation—offers a powerful blueprint. What Bangladesh desperately needs is a Drainage Master Plan 2.0: a forward-looking strategy that not only updates archaic designs but fundamentally integrates the latest climate data and rigorously enforces wetland zoning laws. This cannot be a top-down directive. It requires active, regular dialogue and collaboration among urban planners, climate scientists, engineers and local communities—the very people who live and breathe these challenges. Only by working together can we design and implement a resilient drainage system capable of facing the climate realities of tomorrow.

The choice before us is stark. If we fail to fix our urban drainage systems now, the floods of the future will not merely damage property and disrupt daily life—they will systematically drown opportunity. They will wash away the entrepreneurial spirit of our small businesses and stifle economic growth. They will erode public health, fostering outbreaks of waterborne diseases. Most tragically, they will extinguish hope, leaving our citizens trapped in a cycle of despair and vulnerability. The time for action is not tomorrow, but today. Our collective future, and the very liveability of our cities, depends on it.

Nahian Rahman is research associate at Bangladesh Institute of Governance and Management (BIGM).​

 

[Saif]

undefined | The Financial Express

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Research, knowledge for climate resilience

Published :
Jun 24, 2025 01:19
Updated :
Jun 24, 2025 01:19

When the developed nations are yet to get the priorities in terms of global warming right, countries like Bangladesh are not expected to have enviable records on such issues. But much as such countries may be the least contributor to environmental pollution leading to worsening climate, their stake is higher than that of the rich and more pollutant nations. Thus Bangladesh is the seventh most climate-vulnerable country in the world. Usually, the vulnerability indices of the smaller, least developed, and developing countries have prompted them to look more for external climate funds than domestic resources. Now domestic mobilisation of fund is also important because no one else will bear the brunt of increasing and unpredictable natural calamities. The country will definitely claim its share of the rightful green climate fund (GCF) created under the UN framework convention, but it also has to do its homework for judicious utilisation of this fund and its domestic allocation for the purpose.

According to a report carried in the FE on Sunday last, the moderate domestic allocation of fund hardly finds its rational and proper use. Climate is a vast subject and it is not same everywhere on the planet. This deltaic land may have some similarities with its big neighbour India but still this lower riparian nation has its special problems which are quite different from that upper riparian land. So this country has to identify the causes of its climate-related vulnerabilities on its own. This climate emergency points to the fact that continuous and extensive research is the key to pinpointing the causes and nature of vulnerability arising out of global warming. To the credit of the Sunday's report, it has pointed out the paucity of research and knowledge management in relation to climate vulnerability or lack of resilience. In a country of limited research base, though, this is not quite surprising.

However, the fact is that indifference to climate-related research can be self-defeating in the end. Under the six broad categories of climate funding by 25 ministries, this particular research field has been the least recipient of allocation of fund, according to the report. This has to change urgently because the less than 5.0 per cent ---roughly 3.0 per cent --- allocation for research and knowledge creation and implementation will not help the country to build a model of resilience to climate vulnerability. The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) and the Bangladesh Agriculture University have been an exception to the general lack of research culture in the country. Now there is a complaint that the salinity-drought- and flood-tolerant paddies developed by the BRRI have failed to reach farmers at the grassroots level because of lack of government promotion and patronage.

Such inaction on the part of government agencies act as a disincentive for research. Academic knowledge gets authenticated by research and experiment but unless the outputs of such efforts are taken out of the laboratory for implementation at the field level to the benefit of the end users, the overall ambience of knowledge creation through research and experiments shrinks. Given the country's vulnerabilities to an increasingly hostile climate, the jaded outlook must change for developing its own robust research base in order to take care of the special kinds of problems confronting it.​

 

[Saif]

Decarbonisation is prerequisite for foreign funding

There is growing concern about the likely scarcity of foreign funding for non-green development projects in the immediate future. Reports from various sources, including leading multinational financiers, confirm a marked shift in the global project funding landscape, prompted by international treat

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Decarbonisation is prerequisite for foreign funding

Wasi Ahmed
Published :
Jun 25, 2025 00:54
Updated :
Jun 25, 2025 00:54

There is growing concern about the likely scarcity of foreign funding for non-green development projects in the immediate future. Reports from various sources, including leading multinational financiers, confirm a marked shift in the global project funding landscape, prompted by international treaties aimed at mitigating the impacts of climate change. Foreign funding -- a crucial driver of development in countries like Bangladesh -- is now aligning more closely with climate commitments under agreements such as the Paris Accord.

Key institutions such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank Group (WBG), and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have already pledged to follow the 'Direct Investment Lending Operation' (DILO) framework consistent with the Paris Agreement. This commitment signals a definitive preference for investments that are environmentally sustainable, pushing countries to restructure their development strategies around green objectives.

Infrastructure specialists warn that financing for coal, oil, and other fossil-fuel-based projects may soon disappear altogether. Although Bangladesh is not a significant emitter of greenhouse gases (GHGs), it nonetheless faces pressure to decarbonise its economy. This entails adopting expensive technologies like carbon capture and storage -- an investment challenge for a developing country. Multilateral lenders are reportedly maintaining updated lists of activities they consider compatible or incompatible with a low-carbon trajectory. As a result, any project that does not prioritise emissions reduction or energy efficiency will likely find it difficult to secure international financing.

This raises an urgent question: what does this new financing climate mean for Bangladesh's development ambitions? Fully grasping the implications of the Paris Agreement's guidelines on foreign investment will take time. Bangladesh, despite contributing minimally to global emissions, is among the most vulnerable countries to climate change. Recognising this, the government has already laid out emission reduction targets across multiple sectors, signalling a proactive stance towards transitioning to a low-carbon economy.

According to Bangladesh's revised Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), submitted in August 2021, the country intends to cut GHG emissions by 27.56 million tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2030 through unconditional measures, with an additional 61.9 million tonnes to be reduced conditionally -- subject to foreign support. Realising these ambitious targets requires an estimated $175 billion in investment. More broadly, Bangladesh needs roughly $10 billion annually to finance development initiatives in energy, transport, urban infrastructure and more.

Local experts stress that decarbonisation and emission reduction must now be embedded in the core of all development planning. For instance, projects in the energy and manufacturing sectors should now aim for greater reliance on renewable energy, efficient hydropower systems, and modern heating and cooling technologies that minimise GHG emissions.

The DILO framework under the Paris Agreement outlines a list of eligible activities aligned with climate mitigation goals. These include water supply and sanitation, sustainable construction, information technology and environmental research. Conversely, funding is now explicitly restricted to projects involving thermal coal mining and coal-based power generation. The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2016, set a global goal of limiting average temperature rise to well below 2°c -- and ideally to 1.5°c -- above pre-industrial levels.

Bangladesh's Planning Commission and other government bodies reportedly view this shift in funding priorities positively. They believe it will drive better alignment between development projects and sustainable environmental goals. Future project design and approval will likely incorporate more rigorous environmental screening and compliance requirements. However, while the intentions behind these changes are positive, their implementation poses practical challenges. Multilateral financiers have expressed willingness to continue supporting Bangladesh, but their decisions will increasingly depend on whether proposed projects demonstrate measurable contributions to climate goals. This means that future proposals must be underpinned by robust environmental assessments, carbon impact studies, and clear mitigation strategies.

Ensuring access to foreign funding under these stricter guidelines calls for meticulous planning. Incorporating energy transition measures -- such as replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy -- in development projects will not only make them more fundable but also help address the long-term challenge of climate change.

Admittedly, the shift towards green development may slow or complicate certain traditional growth strategies. Yet, it also presents an opportunity, a chance for Bangladesh to build its development trajectory on sustainable, environmentally responsible foundations. But to do this effectively, the country will require significant capacity building in institutions, workforce skills, and technical knowledge.

Transitioning to green energy and low-carbon infrastructure demands extensive investment in research and innovation. Bangladesh must also upgrade its technical training and education systems to equip the workforce for new jobs in the renewable energy and clean technology sectors.

The shift will have socio-economic ramifications. Industries heavily dependent on fossil fuels may face disruption, potentially causing job losses or economic dislocation. Policymakers must, therefore, design inclusive transition strategies to cushion vulnerable communities and sectors. Social protection, retraining programmes and job creation in green sectors will be crucial components of a just transition.

At the same time, investing in green infrastructure can bring multiple benefits. Reduced reliance on imported fossil fuels will enhance energy security and insulate the economy from global price shocks. Cleaner air, lower pollution levels, and improved public health outcomes are additional dividends of a green transition. This makes the environmental imperative a public health and economic priority as well.

Moreover, the emphasis on sustainable projects can spur innovation and entrepreneurship. Sectors such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and eco-tourism could experience rapid growth. Bangladesh's natural resources, biodiversity and geographical location have considerable potential for green economic initiatives -- provided they are well managed and supported.​

 

[Saif]

Plastic pollution grows for flawed recycling

The country’s plastic recycling industry continues to be fraught with many barriers, including lack of awareness about plastic pollution, poor waste separation and unsupportive tax policies.

www.newagebd.net

Plastic pollution grows for flawed recycling
Sadiqur Rahman 25 June, 2025, 00:21

File photo

The country’s plastic recycling industry continues to be fraught with many barriers, including lack of awareness about plastic pollution, poor waste separation and unsupportive tax policies.

Despite Bangladesh recycling nearly 40 per cent of the plastic waste, far better than the global average of 9 per cent, serious plastic pollution inflicts deep impact on its environment and lives not only of human beings but all living beings also, according to environment experts and activists.

Stakeholders of plastic recycle industry observe that policy and other necessary support will significantly reduce the threat of plastic pollution with Bangladesh annually generating around 8,00,000 tonnes plastic waste, according to an estimate by development organisation Practical Action.

With a call to reduce plastic pollution, the government is celebrating World Environment Day today, instead of on June 5 set by the United Nations for observing the day, as this year it fell in the Eid-ul-Azha holiday.

This year’s theme for the day—‘Beat plastic pollution’—particularly highlights the country’s miserable failure to address the use of single-use plastics although it was the world’s first country to ban single-use plastics in 2002.

Successive governments’ failure to materialise the ban brought monstrous consequences— around 87,000 tonnes of single-use plastics, including polythene bags, are discarded annually with its 96 per cent ending up directly as waste, reveals ‘Plastic Tsunami: Bangladesh’s Maritime Ecosystem Under Siege’, a World Bank study report published in 2024.

On November 1 last year, the incumbent interim government rolled out a renewed effort to restrict the production, marketing, and use of polythene bags. The drive was invariably halted in just two weeks of its execution in face of fierce protests by workers of the plastic polythene bag factories in Old Dhaka.

Experts, however, suggest that plastic pollution in Bangladesh is more a waste mismanagement problem rather than bad consumption.

Yusuf Ashraf, a director at the Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association, emphasises adopting of advanced recycling technology as they do in the industrially developed countries like Singapore.

Separation technology is highly important, he says, adding mixing plastics with other solid waste lowers the quality and recycling value.

‘City corporations and municipal councils, other waste management authorities, are typically unable to separate plastic from other waste,’ Yusuf told New Age.New age fashion

‘Extortion from waste transporters by the police and local strongmen is another big problem in plastic recycling,’ he also said.

Indiscriminate littering of household waste in polythene bags is a major driver of plastic pollution and monsoon-time urban flooding, as the plastics clog drainage systems, experts observe.

Professor Ijaz Hossain, dean of engineering at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, said that the country currently recycles around 40 per cent of its plastic waste, and the rest ended up in landfills and water bodies.

‘Yet, the remaining 60 per cent is mismanaged due to poor waste handling and public littering,’ he said.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s first ‘Global Plastics Outlook’ report revealed in 2022 that the global plastic waste mismanagement rate was 22 per cent and the recycling rate for plastic trash was 9 per cent.

Ijaz said that the country’s amount of mismanaged plastic waste surpass the global average. Apart from single-use polythene bags and PET bottles, which is polyethylene terephthalate, the most common type of polyester used to make bottles in which most beverages are put and marketed, a wide array of plastic products, including food wrappers, medicine foils, baby diapers, cotton buds, vehicle parts and styrofoam goods enter the waste stream daily.

Professor Ijaz stressed the need for bold public campaigns, strict anti-littering laws, implementation of extended producer responsibility and financial incentives for waste collectors to improve plastic recycling.

BPGMEA director Yusuf calls for friendly tax policies to support the recycling industry, saying that while recyclers are tax-exempted, businesses involved in sorting and purchasing recycled raw materials must pay value added tax.

Citing that some global garment brands ask for recycled plastic hangers, he said that the export of such items from Bangladesh faced difficulties.

He added that hangers made from recycled plastics are sometimes rejected by airport scanners due to iron content or sludge, while only imported recycling machines could produce iron or sludge-free plastic raw materials.

According to him, locally made recycling machines cannot produce quality products, while the imported machines cost up to $45,000.

‘Although the import duty on such machines is only 1 per cent, the duty on spare parts remains an unreasonable 15 per cent,’ Yusuf said.

He called for rational import policies, easy bank loans for importing efficient plastic recycling machines and duty waiver to incentivise the use of recycled plastics in manufacturing.

The 2025-26 budget has doubled the VAT on tableware, kitchenware, household items, hygiene products and similar goods from 7.5 per cent to 15 per cent at the production stage.

To promote eco-friendly recycling industries, the withholding tax on the supply of raw materials to these sectors has been reduced from 3 per cent to 1.5 per cent.

Although the ‘Solid Waste Management Rules 2021’ mandates city corporations and municipal authorities to ensure waste separation, the rule had yet to become binding for them due to their operational limitations, said Fahmida Khanom, additional secretary (environment wing) at the environment, forest and climate change ministry.

Entrepreneurs in plastic recycling can get soft loans from Bangladesh Bank’s green fund, she also notes, adding that Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation’s partner organisations also provide loans for small-scale recyclers.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh should not follow the West's example on climate change

Climate change is a man-made problem, but campaigners and irresponsible politicians have blown this out of proportion.

www.thedailystar.net

Bangladesh should not follow the West's example on climate change

The incessant scare stories have driven some Western governments to enact immensely costly policies. File photo: REUTERS

In recent years, climate anxiety has taken over many Western governments and most international organisations. The result has been ruinous policies that help little but undermine future prosperity needed to deal with a host of other problems. Fortunately, Bangladesh can avoid repeating their mistakes.

Climate change is a man-made problem, but campaigners and irresponsible politicians have blown this out of proportion and call it an existential threat that could eradicate humanity. No further action on climate will result in a problem, but it would not be the end of the world.

The incessant scare stories have driven some Western governments to enact immensely costly policies. The UK has gone further in climate policies over the past two decades than nearly any other country. As a result, the inflation-adjusted electricity price, weighted across households and industry, has increased significantly from 2003 to 2023. By comparison, the US electricity price has remained almost unchanged over the same period.

At the same time, the rich world is increasingly realising that it faces many other expensive challenges, including an ageing population bringing higher pension and healthcare costs, crumbling infrastructure, poor educational outcomes and a need for larger defence spending. Yet the EU has committed itself to climate goals which will cost it severely.

Bangladesh should not repeat the mistakes made by Western countries by diving headlong into ineffective climate policies. It has a record of huge achievements, vast potential, and—like every other country—a myriad of complex challenges. Bangladesh must get the balance right between the challenges and opportunities in front of it. A considered, balanced response to climate change means rolling out solar and wind in the areas where that is sensible, while realising that the longer-term solution to climate change must be innovation.

In 1970, when hunger stalked the developing world, the answer was not to make the whole world eat less to redistribute food. Innovation through the Green Revolution dramatically increased yields and brought better varieties and more fertiliser. Likewise, we will not solve climate change by being poorer, colder and with less power. Instead, the leading industrial nations that are responsible for the majority of carbon emissions need to ramp up innovation in future generations of low-carbon energy. Once they innovate clean energy to be cheaper than fossil fuels, everyone will be able to switch.

Adaptation is another vital climate change response. Farmers across Bangladesh know this already: they adapt to suit changes in the climate. In cities, we know that adaptive infrastructure like green areas, more reflective surfaces, and water features helps keep temperatures cooler. Adaptation can avoid a large part of the climate problem.

Finally, poverty alleviation is a crucial part of the response to climate change. Lifting people out of poverty reduces their vulnerability to climate shocks like heat waves or hurricanes. Moreover, wealthier, more prosperous societies can afford better protection from the elements, along with better nutrition, healthcare and social protection. Wealthy countries can spend more on environmental protection, and all other good things.

Being smart about climate change also means that governments will have more resources to invest in solving other important challenges.

One such investment: we should boost maternal and newborn health through a simple package of basic emergency obstetric care and more family planning. Globally, this could save the lives of many mothers and newborns every year. Another phenomenal investment: agricultural research and development to help Bangladesh's farmers become more efficient.

Bangladesh has immense possibilities if it can seize the opportunity to invest wisely and judiciously. It should avoid the singular climate focus of some Western countries and invest based on rigorous economic science in areas where it can make the most impact and the greatest progress.

Bjorn Lomborg is president of the Copenhagen Consensus, visiting fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, and author of False Alarm and Best Things First.​

 

[Saif]

What Ramchandrapur's revival means for Dhaka

This canal is approximately three kilometres in length and is almost filled with dust, including solid waste, plastic, and household waste, which interferes with the regular water flow and causes waterlogging during the rainy season. Another adverse effect of pollution is the spread of mosquitoes t

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

A clean canal, a healthier city
What Ramchandrapur's revival means for Dhaka
Tanjim Hasan Patwary

Published :
Jun 25, 2025 10:16
Updated :
Jun 25, 2025 10:16

This canal is approximately three kilometres in length and is almost filled with dust, including solid waste, plastic, and household waste, which interferes with the regular water flow and causes waterlogging during the rainy season. Another adverse effect of pollution is the spread of mosquitoes that cause dengue, which increases during the monsoon. Yes, this has been the typical scenario at Ramchandpur Canal, located in Mohammadpur, which has been successfully cleaned to revive the biodiversity and environment of its surroundings.

The two-day-long project was conducted under the supervision of 2 government organisations, including the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC).

The project started on June 20th and ended the following day, highlighting the importance of water flow for a healthy lifestyle.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Mohammad Ejaz, Administrator of DNCC, visited the project on the concluding day of the campaign.

More than 300 volunteers from DNCC and Footsteps actively participated in this work to provide a healthy life for the residents of the residence.

Moreover, the waste emits a stench that can spread airborne diseases to its nearby inhabitants.

The effect is especially severe for children and older people, as they often have a weakened immune system. Furthermore, this type of environmental pollution can lead to long-term health complications in the human body, which may sometimes result in fatal diseases among its inhabitants.

The government's campaign to rescue this canal was conducted several times in previous years, but no real benefit was gained from those efforts. Not only are the industrials responsible, but the general public is also responsible.

People deliberately throw plastic and other debris into the canal, which ultimately leads to the canal being filled with wastewater, making the once lively river a deadly one.

The sewage and construction debris pollute the water in this canal, which has a detrimental impact on aquatic life and contributes to the canal's poor condition.

The cleaning project of this year has made the dwellers surrounding the canal happy, but regular supervision is also crucial to maintaining this scenario throughout the year.

Public awareness should also be created in this regard, as any initiative will be ineffective without the proper understanding of its residents.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, talked to the journalists while visiting the campaign.

She said, "We can not ignore the significance of canals to our lives. However, the government can not serve the duty of cleaning the canals alone. The general public should assist us so that we can continue our work smoothly."

"If the dwellers of this region do not help us in this regard, no initiative will be successful. We also have a plan to make the canal deeper, but it may take some time, as the work may threaten the buildings surrounding the canal. But we are hoping to make a meaningful solution of it, and the residents of here will get benefits if our upcoming plans become successful," she added.

Mohammad Ejaz, Administrator of DNCC, also visited the campaign. He also attended the dialogue with the journalists at the campaign.

He said, "Canals have a good tie with the people of that residence. Any animosity at the flow of canals adversely affects the lifestyle of those residents. So, we have to be careful to protect the canals for our betterment."

There are several canals in Dhaka city, although the total number of canals in this city varies according to different government organisations. According to Dhaka District Administration (2016), the total number of canals in Dhaka city is 58. On the other hand, the number is 54, according to 2 city corporations in Dhaka (2022).

Cleaning the waste of Ramchandrapur can serve as an example to other canals in Dhaka city, conveying a message to continue such work in the rest of the canals. The densely populated Dhaka city may offer its residents a better life, which is a long cherished dream for people living there. Government initiatives, as well as public awareness through personal and community efforts, are essential to make this dream a reality.

Shah Rafayet Chowdhury is the Co-founder and President of Footsteps. He said, "Firstly, we doubted whether we would be successful in cleaning it up, as it was full of waste. However, when we began our work, we received very positive responses from all the project stakeholders. DNCC helped us a lot while implementing our project, especially their logistics support, which made our work smooth."

"We have a plan to monitor the canal so that the cleanliness remains in the future. As the sanitation system near the canal is extremely woeful, we will work with the related ministries of the government so that the residents of that area get a healthy, livable place. We may also engage ourselves to restore the water supply system along with other individuals so that the canals of Dhaka city can explore its missing heritage."

Canals are assets for any country that balance the water flow of the city. However, unawareness and an unethical mentality contribute to environmental disruption, leading to suffering in daily life.

Therefore, public and private initiatives, as well as awareness among the people, must be created to protect the canals, which will ultimately save the dwellers from destruction.​

 

[Saif]

Recycling capacity needs to be upped to tackle plastic pollution

THE dismal state of waste management, especially of plastic waste, can hardly be overstated. The limited recycling capacity appears to have exacerbated the situation. World Environment Day this year has placed special an emphasis on plastic pollution. Although Bangladesh has made some strides in...

www.newagebd.net

Recycling capacity needs to be upped to tackle plastic pollution
26 June, 2025, 00:00

THE dismal state of waste management, especially of plastic waste, can hardly be overstated. The limited recycling capacity appears to have exacerbated the situation. World Environment Day this year has placed special an emphasis on plastic pollution. Although Bangladesh has made some strides in recycling plastic waste, a substantial volume of plastic remains uncollected. An estimated 800,000 tonnes of plastic waste are produced annually and at least 60 per cent is not recycled. A World Bank study says that about 70 per cent of plastic waste is mismanaged and carelessly discarded. A United Nations Environment Programme study says that Bangladesh ranks among the top 10 plastic-polluting countries and is the 7th highest plastic-consuming nation in the world. The issue is further aggravated by a high volume of single-use plastic although Bangladesh is the first country to ban single-use plastics in 2002. About 87,000 tonnes of single-use plastic containers are discarded annually in Bangladesh, most of which finds way to water bodies and waterways.

Research suggests that an estimated 23,000 to 36,000 tonnes of plastic waste are disposed of annually in 1,212 hotspots around canals and rivers in and around Dhaka. Much of this haphazardly dumped waste ends up in rivers and other aquatic systems. Tourist-heavy regions are also plagued by a high concentration of plastic waste and the areas are similarly marked by the absence of effective waste management and recycling mechanism. Although the government has expressed its commitment to reducing plastic usage, it has yet to take any meaningful action. This inaction has contributed to a rise in the prevalence of single-use plastic containers, including items such as food packaging, straws, cotton buds, sachets, coffee stirrers, and bottles for soda, water and soft drinks, along with plastic bags. Experts say that plastic pollution is largely a problem of waste mismanagement, noting that proper recycling can transform waste into wealth. Yet, the recycling industry continues to face significant barriers, including the absence of comprehensive policy support. The adoption of advanced recycling technologies and the enforcement of waste segregation practices, mandated by the Solid Waste Management Rules 2021 but not yet followed by relevant agencies for operational limitations, are crucial in addressing the threat of plastic waste. Industry insiders have also highlighted the need for supportive tax policies and access to soft loans to help foster the growth of the recycling sector.​

 

[Krishna with Flute]

Vantara | India's Solution to Wildlife Biodiversity Loss | Vantage with Palki Sharma

No of trees in vantara - Search Videos

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[Krishna with Flute]

25 million trees are planted at Vantara.​

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Why Vantara is one of its kind: Setting global benchmarks in animal welfare​

Committed to preserving endangered species, Vantara is spearheading innovative conservation breeding programmes for species such as the Cheetah, slender loris, vulture, and the Great Indian Bustard.​

Moneycontrol News

March 04, 2025 / 15:21 IST

PM Modi inaugurated the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre.​

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited Reliance Foundation’s Vantara in Gujarat’s Jamnagar and inaugurated the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre.



Spread across 3,500 acres, Vantara is a wildlife preservation project founded by Anant Ambani, director on the boards of RIL and Reliance Foundation. The project is also supported by Reliance Industries and Reliance Foundation.


Vantara is focused on creating best-in-class animal conservation and care practices, including state-of-the-art healthcare, hospitals, research and academic centres. It also collaborates with with reputed international universities and organisations such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF).

Here are the 10 key things to know about the initiative.

•It runs the world’s largest rescue operations for wildlife (with over 25,000 wild animals) and the largest Conservation & Breeding Centre (over 48 species).


•It is also houses Aisa’s first wildlife hospital with CT scan and MRI units.

• It has world’s largest and India’s only Animal Wildlife Quarantine.

•It has the largest Leopard Rescue Centre (over 300) and Elephant Care Centre (over 250).


•Vantara has Asia’s largest pharmacy for animals. It also has over 75 animal ambulances.

•Till date, over 250 international rescue operations have been successfully completed.

•Vantara’s state-of-the-art hospitals and clinics Include : CT scan, MRI, Ultrasound, Chemotherapy, X-rays, Endoscopy, Lithotripsy, Laser Therapy, Acupuncture, Robotic Laser Surgeries, Blood Bank, Blood Plasma Separator and Abaxis Vet Scan among other facilities.

•There are 25,000,000 trees in Vantara.

• Around 3,500 people work in Vantara.

• It has the world’s only central sterilisation facility dedicated towards wildlife conservation.

Under Vantara’s auspices, non-profit public trusts are dedicated to the selfless service of animals, setting global benchmarks in animal welfare. Committed to preserving endangered species, Vantara is spearheading innovative conservation breeding programmes for species such as the Cheetah, slender loris, vulture, and the Great Indian Bustard, with a special emphasis on animals native to India.

Disclaimer: Moneycontrol is a part of the Network18 group. Network18 is controlled by Independent Media Trust, of which Reliance Industries is the sole beneficiary.

No of trees in vantara - Bing

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[Krishna with Flute]

I have created my own small Vantara called Shanti Park. 9500 trees are planted. Atleast 2000 more are planned this rainy season. 4 small Miyawaki forest.

 

[Krishna with Flute]

 

[Saif]

Displaced by climate or design?

AS RISING seas swallow coasts, floods wash away livelihood and droughts parch once-fertile lands, the image of the climate-displaced person has become an emblem of the unfolding climate crisis. These stark environmental shifts are no longer distant projections but daily realities for millions...

www.newagebd.net

Displaced by climate or design?
26 June, 2025, 21:39

People stand on the eroded river bank in Munshiganj.

If we are to genuinely address the crisis of climate-induced displacement, we must challenge the depoliticised and sanitised narratives that currently dominate policy discourse and media representation, write Aminur Rahman and Quazi Arunim Rahman

AS RISING seas swallow coasts, floods wash away livelihood and droughts parch once-fertile lands, the image of the climate-displaced person has become an emblem of the unfolding climate crisis. These stark environmental shifts are no longer distant projections but daily realities for millions across the globe. The world, especially countries in the Global North, has adopted this narrative with increasing ease — citing ‘climate displacement’ as a tragic but seemingly unavoidable consequence of global warming. However, beneath this seemingly empathetic framing lies a troubling normalisation of forced displacement, one that often conceals the deeper roots of responsibility, historical exploitation and entrenched power imbalances.

Is climate change the sole villain displacing millions from their homes? Or is this displacement, often portrayed as an inevitable act of nature, also manufactured — shaped and accelerated by the unchecked activities, consumption patterns, and political choices of the Global North? We must ask whether the movement of people is truly about nature’s wrath or the calculated outcomes of global inequality and systemic injustice.

Politics of naming

THE term ‘climate displacement’ sounds neutral, even sterile — as if it were a natural event, like rainfall or an earthquake. It de-emphasises human agency and obscures the deeper structural injustices that have led us here. In reality, what we often call ‘climate displacement’ is a form of forced uprooting driven largely by the extractive economies, fossil fuel dependencies and high-carbon lifestyles of wealthier nations. These patterns of overconsumption and environmental degradation have created a planetary crisis, the consequences of which are most intensely felt in the Global South. In countries like Bangladesh, where communities have contributed the least to global emissions, people now face the most severe climate impacts — rising tides, salinization, river erosion and the collapse of agricultural systems.

Labelling this as ‘climate-induced displacement’ alone serves to erase the culpability of the Global North. It subtly shifts the discourse from one of accountability to one of adaptation, from justice to humanitarianism. In this framing, the Global North often emerges not as the historical polluter or instigator of structural inequalities, but as the benevolent saviour offering aid and support. This clever narrative repositioning distances the powerful from responsibility and reframes displacement as an unfortunate — but blameless — side effect of climate change.

Displacement as managed outcome

WHAT if displacement isn’t just a regrettable side effect of climate change, but a managed outcome — one that fits comfortably within the Global North’s geopolitical and economic frameworks? Climate displacement has increasingly become a policy category within development, climate adaptation and disaster response plans. Yet these plans are often crafted without reference to political histories, colonial legacies or the socio-economic systems that created vulnerability in the first place. Instead of working towards deep, structural climate justice that interrogates root causes, we now witness the institutionalisation of climate refugees as a manageable, predictable group within global governance frameworks.

Aid flows, resettlement programmes, and climate finance packages are offered — often presented with public relations fanfare — but these rarely challenge the global systems that create and perpetuate environmental harm. Worse, such policies can reinforce existing inequalities by treating displaced populations as passive recipients of charity, rather than active holders of rights, knowledge and demands. Displacement becomes framed as a technical issue, solvable with logistics and funding, rather than as a political issue that demands fundamental changes in global systems of extraction and accumulation.

Who gets to stay?

CLIMATE change does not impact everyone equally — nor does it displace everyone equally. Wealthier populations in flood-prone or wildfire-risk areas may relocate with government support, insurance coverage and a pathway to reestablish their lives in safer zones. They often have the privilege of mobility, safety nets and institutional recognition. In stark contrast, marginalised communities, particularly in the Global South, are left with few viable options. They must either remain in deteriorating environments or undertake dangerous and uncertain migrations — often without formal recognition, protection under international law, or access to rights and services in destination areas.

This disparity is not accidental or coincidental. It reflects a deeply entrenched global order where some lives are protected and others are rendered disposable. In such a framework, displacement becomes not merely a consequence but a deliberate mechanism — a way to keep the Global South in a continuous state of precarity, dependency and subjugation. The decision of who gets to stay and who is forced to move reveals uncomfortable truths about whose lives are valued and whose suffering is tolerated.

Reclaiming the narrative

IF WE are to genuinely address the crisis of climate-induced displacement, we must challenge the depoliticised and sanitised narratives that currently dominate policy discourse and media representation. We must move beyond the passive label of ‘climate migrants’ or ‘climate displaced’ or ‘climate refugee’ and ask deeper, more difficult questions: Who created the conditions for their displacement? Who benefits from the way this crisis is framed? And who is made invisible or voiceless in the process?

It is time for the Global North to confront its historical and ongoing role in producing climate harm — not merely through symbolic gestures or pledges but through concrete acts of responsibility. This includes not only reducing emissions at home but also paying reparations for historical damage, transferring clean technologies without conditions, and most importantly, upholding the rights, dignity, and autonomy of displaced communities. This is not a matter of charity — it is a matter of justice, accountability, and shared humanity.

Ultimately, climate displacement is not just about the climate. It is about power, inequality and responsibility. And unless we are willing to name those truths, we risk turning one of the greatest moral challenges of our time into just another managed crisis — with the most vulnerable paying the highest price.

Aminur Rahman is a researcher and seasoned development professional. Quazi Arunim Rahman is a lecturer at the University of Brahmanbaria.​

 

[Saif]

Lightning kills 350 annually in Bangladesh

Lightning strikes continue to pose a growing threat in Bangladesh, claiming nearly 350 lives every year, with the northeastern districts of Sunamganj, Netrokona and Sylhet identified as the most vulnerable zones. Khan Mohammad Golam Rabbani, a weather expert from the intergovernmental organisation

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Lightning kills 350 annually in Bangladesh

Published :
Jun 28, 2025 21:25
Updated :
Jun 28, 2025 21:25

Lightning strikes continue to pose a growing threat in Bangladesh, claiming nearly 350 lives every year, with the northeastern districts of Sunamganj, Netrokona and Sylhet identified as the most vulnerable zones.

Khan Mohammad Golam Rabbani, a weather expert from the intergovernmental organisation Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES), shared the data at a seminar held on Saturday at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre to mark International Lightning Safety Day.

“On average, 3.36 million lightning strikes occur in Bangladesh annually, causing around 350 fatalities,” he said.

He named Sunamganj, Netrokona and Sylhet as the districts most at risk, as per a bdnews24.com report.

“The risk peaks in April and May. Recently, lightning incidents have increased by 10 per cent, with further rises expected,” Rabbani added.

The seminar was jointly organised by RIMES and the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).

At the same event, Disaster Management Secretray Mostafizur Rahman said: “Work is under way to transform the Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) into a full-fledged department.

“It won’t just focus on cyclones -- it will serve all forms of disaster preparedness. Its role will include everything from raising awareness across the country to engaging local volunteers.

“These volunteers will receive training not just on cyclones but across all disaster types,” he added.

The seminar also shared key safety tips during lightning strikes:
​

• Stay indoors if dark clouds appear or thunder is heard​
• ​
• If working outdoors without access to shelter, crouch low with limbs tucked in. Do not lie flat on the ground​
• ​
• If in water, stay under the boat canopy​
• ​
• Without a canopy, reduce contact with the boat floor as much as possible​
• ​
• Stop fishing​
• ​
• Avoid water bodies​
• ​
• Do not take shelter under trees or on elevated ground​
• ​
• Stay away from torn power lines​
• ​

Places deemed unsafe during lightning strikes include:
​

• Tents set up in open areas​
• ​
• Shelters with open roofs​
• ​
• Metal structures such as uncovered passenger sheds​
• ​
• Umbrellas are also unsafe​

The seminar recommended staying indoors for at least 30 minutes after the last thunderclap is heard.​

 

[Saif]

Why Dhaka has become unliveable

To survive Dhaka, you need a strategy. Start by embracing the absurd: treat every crisis as a plot twist.

www.thedailystar.net

Why Dhaka has become unliveable

FILE PHOTO: STAR

Picture this: you're standing in the middle of Shahbagh at 8:30am. The sun is already a vengeful orb, the air tastes like exhaust fumes and unfulfilled promises, and the traffic—oh, the traffic—is a fossilised river of cars, rickshaws, and humanity. A man in a sweat-soaked shirt argues with a CNG-run autorickshaw driver over a fare increase of Tk 10. A schoolgirl hops over a sludge-filled pothole, her uniform skirt flapping like a surrender flag.

Somewhere, a protest slogan echoes, muffled by the honking symphony. Welcome to Dhaka, the city that never sleeps, because it's too busy being stuck in traffic, dodging waterlogged streets, or wondering if today's political demonstration will be the one that finally tips the collective sanity into the abyss.

A recent editorial by The Daily Star, titled "This is not how a city can survive", is a primal scream into the void. It catalogues Dhaka's daily crucifixion: protests that gridlock entire neighbourhoods, infrastructure that crumbles faster than a biscuit in cha, and a government that seems to treat citizen welfare as an afterthought in its grand political opera. But how does one survive here? Not just exist, not just endure, but carve out a sliver of dignity—or at least a functioning Wi-Fi connection—amid the chaos? Let's muse.

Dhaka operates on a unique principle: maximum effort, minimum progress. You leave home at 7am to reach your office five kilometres away by 9am, only to discover that a spontaneous protest has turned the road into a car park. The protesters, bless their democratic hearts, are exercising their right to dissent. The traffic police, meanwhile, are exercising their right to vanish. You sit. You sweat. You contemplate the existential irony of a metro rail gliding overhead while your CNG-run autorickshaw dies.

The editorial nails it: this isn't just inconvenience, it's systemic erosion. When protests metastasise into daily blockades, when VIP movements reroute entire neighbourhoods, when monsoon rains turn roads into Venetian canals (sans the romance), the city becomes less a habitat and more a stress simulator. The elderly, the sick, the parents hauling toddlers through sludge—these aren't extras in a dystopian film. They're us. And the tragedy isn't just the suffering, it's the normalisation of it. We have mastered the art of shrugging, "Ki ar korar? Eitai to Dhaka."

But here's the twist: Dhaka's chaos is also its alchemy. The same streets that trap you for hours host impromptu tea stalls where strangers bond over shared misery. The protests that infuriate you also remind you that dissent, however disruptive, is a heartbeat this city refuses to silence. Survival here isn't about avoiding the chaos; it's about learning to dance in the rubble.

Let's be honest: optimism in Dhaka feels like bringing a parasol to a tsunami. The just-revealed Global Liveability Index 2025 ranks us 171st out of 173 cities, below even Kyiv, a city currently hosting an actual war. Our air quality rivals industrial chimneys. Our infrastructure budget seems to evaporate faster than rainwater in July. And don't get me started on the mosquitoes—Aedes aegypti, the unofficial mascot of our public health nightmares.

Yet, cynicism is a luxury this city can't afford. The editorial's plea to prioritise citizens' well-being isn't just a policy suggestion; it's a survival manifesto.

The government's inertia—whether in tackling air pollution, fixing roads, or addressing inflation—is a masterclass in absurdity. The new metro rail? A Band-Aid on a bullet wound. The real solution—disciplined traffic management, green spaces, functional public transport—remains as elusive as a quiet afternoon in Gulistan.

Surviving Dhaka demands a sense of humour. Not the slapstick kind, but the gallows variety. Take the Great Waterlogging Chronicles: you invest in waterproof shoes, only to discover the real enemy is the floating garbage island blocking the drain. Or the VIP Movement Saga, where your entire commute is derailed because someone's convoy needs to glide through the city like a pampered comet. And then there's the Protest Paradox: you support the right to demonstrate but draw the line when it turns your 20-minute errand into a three-hour odyssey.

The editorial's call for "responsible protest" is noble but feels like asking a tornado to mind its manners. Protests here aren't just political theatre; they're catharsis. When the system grinds you down, blocking a road feels like the only megaphone you've got. The problem isn't dissent—it's the collateral damage. A city can't thrive when its arteries are clogged daily, when ambulances are trapped behind slogan-chanting crowds, when students miss exams because the streets are a battleground.

But imagine this: What if protests were organised with precision? What if the government actually planned for them, rerouting traffic, designating zones, ensuring that emergencies aren't collateral damage? What if, instead of adversarial standoffs, we had dialogue?

To survive Dhaka, you need a strategy. Start by embracing the absurd: treat every crisis as a plot twist. Stuck in traffic? Perfect time to memorise a poem. Power outage? Candlelit introspection hour. Find your oasis—a rooftop garden, a quiet cafe, a library corner—and claim a sliver of peace amid the bedlam. Channel your inner Tagore; the man wrote about birds and freedom while colonialism loomed. Create beauty anyway. Demand better, but build resilience: advocate for change, but don't wait for it. Plant a tree. Mentor a kid. Fix a pothole yourself (if the city won't). And above all, laugh. Loudly. Because if you don't, you'll cry.

The editorial ends with a plea for collaboration—government, parties, citizens—to stop treating civic life as a hostage. But collaboration requires trust, and trust is in shorter supply than parking spots here. Yet, hope persists, in the students demanding safer streets, architects designing vertical gardens, journalists chronicling both collapse and resilience.

Dhaka is a city of contradictions. It's a place where you can attend a rooftop art exhibition overlooking a slum, where a phuchka vendor philosophises about inflation, where the smell of rain on concrete mingles with the stench of neglect. It's unliveable. It's home.

The editorial is a mirror held up to our collective face, reflecting exhaustion, yes, but also a stubborn refusal to surrender. Survival here isn't passive; it's a daily rebellion. So, the next time you're trapped in traffic, roll down your window. Share a snack with the rickshaw wala. Complain about the potholes. Dream of a better city. And remember: Dhaka's chaos is also its pulse. As long as it beats, so do we.

Zakir Kibria is a writer and policy analyst.​

 

[Saif]

Govt should step up forecasting, warning of lightning strikes

BANGLADESH has, as Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System data suggest, the highest rate of death by lightning strike in South Asia. Whilst more than 3.3 million lightning strikes happen in Bangladesh every year, the rate of death by strikes remains at 1.21 per 1,000 square...

www.newagebd.net

Govt should step up forecasting, warning of lightning strikes
30 June, 2025, 00:00

BANGLADESH has, as Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System data suggest, the highest rate of death by lightning strike in South Asia. Whilst more than 3.3 million lightning strikes happen in Bangladesh every year, the rate of death by strikes remains at 1.21 per 1,000 square kilometres, with India trailing by 0.86 and Nepal by 0.62. Records show that 270 people have so far died by lightning strike this year. The figure of death by lightning strike was 322 in 2024, as records available with the disaster management department say. In 2020, considered the worst year since 2015 in terms of the disaster, lightning strikes killed 427 people. Data show that 62 per cent of more than 3.3 million lightning strikes happening in Bangladesh every year occur between April and June, with May being the month when most of the strikes take place. And, lightning strikes happen mostly in Jamalganj, an upazila in the north-eastern district of Sunamganj, with 103 strikes per square kilometre on an average every year. Other areas where lightning strikes happen frequently are Netrakona and Moulvibazar, near Sunamganj.

Meteorologists say that the north-eastern haor region sits on massive, static water bodies in the background of Meghalaya which offers a perfect condition for lightning strikes. An analysis of 13 years of lightning strike data points to a conclusion that the frequency of the strike has increased by about 10 per cent, viewed on par with the global knowledge that an increase in temperature by one degree Celsius accounts for an increase in the frequency of lightning strikes by 10 per cent. A typical lightning strike is said to have about 300 million volts and 30,000 amperes of current. And, death by lightning strike remains a problem, which may not be eliminated but can be minimised with an efficient warning system. An early forecast of lightning strike is difficult but specific warning, as experts say, is possible six to 12 hours before lightning strikes. A meteorologist at the Met Office says that Bangladesh has introduced an experimental advanced lightning forecasting system which since April 1 has been able to forecast lightning strikes one to six hours before the disaster happens. Experts now demand that the government should ask mobile operators to broadcast lightning warnings to communities vulnerable to lightning strikes so that death by lightning strikes could be minimised.

Whilst the government should, in such a situation, step up the forecasting so that warnings could be flagged six to 12 hours before the happening, it should put in place a warning broadcast system to make the best use of the forecast.​