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

[Saif]

Five climate action reforms that are doable

No space for Climate change in the ongoing reform debates but actions are needed.

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Five climate action reforms that are doable

In the past 17 years, 17 big cyclones have hit Bangladesh. So, climate change-induced losses and damages are real for our country. FILE PHOTO: REUTERS

Climate change, an undoubtedly neutral topic in Bangladesh's politics, doesn't have any space in the ongoing reform debates. Nevertheless, given its existential nature, it will be a missed opportunity if we don't take the following five doable actions soon to reform our climate action.

First, we have several good climate change-relevant plans in the country, including the National Adaptation Plan of Bangladesh (2023-2050) (NAP). However, we should prioritise only the NAP because it is very well-designed and the latest, and having too many investment plans is confusing. Besides, some Bangladeshi climate change experts think that adaptation should be our priority, not Loss and Damage (L&D). But, since adaptation measures have been failing to protect us from aggravated climate change impacts, taking L&D action is our next logical option. In the past 17 years (2007-2024), 17 big cyclones have hit Bangladesh. So, climate change-induced losses and damages are real for our country. The environment ministry, therefore, should adopt a national mechanism to figure out how the country should prepare itself, in terms of policy, capacity building, knowledge, and finance, by responding to worsening losses and damages.

Second, we should redefine our climate action. Instead of small pilot projects, we should scale up our proven options. We must also ensure many co-benefits from one investment. When we grow resilient crops in vulnerable locations, for example, we shouldn't only think about how many people it will feed, but also if it will maintain the soil health, and ensure social equity. In another approach, we need to bring in multiple compatible solutions in one place to maximise the impact. When we manage floods, for instance, we shouldn't only rely on engineering (grey solutions) or focus only on planting trees on the upstream watershed (green solutions). We need to harness grey, green, even blue (water-based) solutions, as all kinds of solutions have strengths and can complement each other.

Third, during the last 10 fiscal years, climate-relevant budgets have been 7.26-10.09 percent of the 25 ministries' and divisions' total budget, and 0.7-0.8 percent of our national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In the next fiscal year (2025-26), we want the climate-relevant budget to include the ministries of culture, information, religion, and youth too, as all are crucial for climate action. The budget summary should not be based on the obsolete themes of the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan, 2009 (BCCSAP). We need to bring in new themes. For example, adaptation money should be allocated under the "Locally Led Adaptation" theme, mitigation funds under "Green Growth" and "Just Transition", natural resource management activities under "Nature-based Solutions", and disaster risk management under the "L&D" theme. Knowledge and capacity building together must be cross-cutting themes, not separate ones. Further, the government should geographically (down to upazila level) allocate the climate budget based on vulnerability maps. Currently, we see serious anomalies in the geographical distribution of the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund (BCCTF) (e.g. Dhaka and Barishal divisions receive 38.26 percent of the total fund). We must correct this inconsistency.

The fourth proposed action is on Bangladesh Climate Change Trust's (BCCT) governance. The seven sectoral ministries (e.g. local government, water, and agriculture) on the trustee board should be replaced, since these ministries are frequent recipients of the BCCTF. Instead, representatives of civil society, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and academia should be included. In the technical committee, the number of non-government technical experts should be increased.

On December 31, 2024, the BCCT uploaded the lists of a total of 944 projects: 254 ongoing, 623 completed, and 68 terminated. For transparency and accountability, the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) reports of the ongoing projects and project completion reports of the terminated and completed projects should be made public. The environment ministry-led trustee board should also restructure the BCCT's M&E system by giving responsibility to regional NGOs and academia to reduce operating costs, increase efficiency, and encourage inclusive governance.

Finally, Bangladesh launched the "Bangladesh Climate and Development Partnership" to scale up cross-sectoral implementation of climate action. In addition to a coordination board, four working groups are part of its structure, covering climate finance, policy reforms, capacity building, and knowledge sharing. Since mid-December 2024, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has been supporting the environment ministry to operationalise this platform. The ministry should harness this opportunity and work with the finance division to allocate operationalisation budget for 2025-26.

The environment ministry's current focus on protecting rivers is commendable. But, we need it to be active in the climate change arena too—not only to present a healthy report in the next climate change Conference of the Parties (COP), but also for the sake of Bangladesh's resilience.

Dr Haseeb Md. Irfanullah is an independent consultant working on the environment, climate change, and the research system. He is a visiting research fellow at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB).​

 

[Saif]

Naraynganj canals pay for waste dumping, encroachment

When canals that run in and around the capital have either fallen into a terrible state or hurtled towards a slow death in the absence of effective waste management and because of encroachment, canals and water bodies in Naraynganj are in no better shape. A waste-filled DND canal at Siddhirganj...

www.newagebd.net

Naraynganj canals pay for waste dumping, encroachment
24 April, 2025, 00:00

When canals that run in and around the capital have either fallen into a terrible state or hurtled towards a slow death in the absence of effective waste management and because of encroachment, canals and water bodies in Naraynganj are in no better shape. A waste-filled DND canal at Siddhirganj in Narayanganj, as a photograph that New Age published on April 22 shows, is representative of all canals and water bodies that have been left unprotected. Unplanned dumping of domestic wastes, kitchen market wastes, faecal sludge and medical and electronic wastes keeps destroying the canals, polluting the environment, causing water stagnation and adversely impacting public health. Narayanganj people say that canals and water bodies, especially close to industrial areas, are faced with a slow death as wastes are haphazardly dumped in them while influential people have grabbed parts of many canals and water bodies. If such haphazard waste dumping and land grab continue, the canals and water bodies will face the fate of the canals and water bodies of the capital.

In Dhaka, not even a single canal is now free of pollution and encroachment. A number of canals have also lost their flow and some have just disappeared, too, because of unabated encroachment. The existence of a few canals in Dhaka has been only on paper as they have all now been encroached on. Many others are headed for the same fate in the absence of any effective action. About two-thirds of areas of canals and water retention and flood flow zones earmarked by the Flood Action Plan and the Detailed Area Plan have already been occupied by powerful quarters and government agencies. The authorities appear to have failed to address the issue adequately. In the past, various agencies took some measures such as enlisting grabbers of river and canal land, conducting drives to reclaim grabbed land, destroying illegal structures on river or canal land and penalising industries for dumping untreated waste into rivers and canals. But the measures, which failed to work, have not been sustainable. When there are a number of laws, rules, policies and guidelines to ensure environmentally-friendly waste management and stop encroachment, the failure to save the canals and water bodies is deplorable.

It is high time the authorities in Dhaka and surrounding districts abandoned paying lip service to the issue and showed the will to reclaim and preserve the canals, wetland, green areas and water bodies. The government should, therefore, take up an integrated approach, dealing with all factors that contribute to the destruction of the canals, to reclaim and conserve the canals to stop the city from hurtling to a disaster.​

 

[Saif]

Excavations fail to revive Mayur river

Mayur river, a major lifeline in Khulna that has long been plagued by encroachments and pollution, still remains on the brink of death despite two excavation projects to revive it over the past decade.

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Excavations fail to revive Mayur river
Encroachment, waste dumping continue unabated

Mayur river, a major lifeline in Khulna that has long been plagued by encroachments and pollution, still remains on the brink of death despite two excavation projects to revive it over the past decade.

In 2014, the Khulna City Corporation undertook the first excavation project, spending Tk 5.78 crore to dredge 5.9- kilometre stretch of the river. A second initiative began in December 2023 with a Tk 7.59 crore allocation, which is nearing completion.

Yet, the 12-kilometre-long river still remains just a little more than a drain with pitch black water filled with silt and water hyacinths, as the excavation efforts fell short due to a lack of coordination, poor planning, and failure to enforce anti-encroachment laws.

The Mayur river, which flows through key areas of Khulna city including Alutola, Nirala, Gallamary, Boyra, Dayana, Arongghata, and Beel Dakatia before joining the Rupsha river, served as a robust freshwater source and natural drainage system for the city, playing a vital role in reducing waterlogging, supporting biodiversity, and providing water for nearly one lakh residents.

Experts opined that without a coordinated effort from the administration, environmentalists, and local communities, reviving Mayur river may remain an unattainable goal.

Visiting Trimohana area recently, the river was seen occupied by a makeshift bamboo dam, with sand being dumped at several points. Near Mahatab Uddin Road, a bamboo fencing was seen erected on the river.

Meanwhile, 26 drains within the KCC areas continue to discharge untreated waste water directly into the river, further exacerbating its woes.

Obidur Rahman, a resident of Rayer Mahal, said, "We cannot use the river's water for irrigation any more as it is too polluted."

Mahfuzur Rahman Mukul, divisional coordinator of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association, said, "Without strict enforcement of law against encroachers, proper waste management, and continuous monitoring, Mayur may soon become a dead river."

Contacted, KCC chief engineer Moshiuzzaman Khan said the river's dredging work is almost complete.

He, however, said monitoring remains a significant challenge.

"We often get informed about attempts to construct structures within the river or instances of pollution from different sources, and we take action and carry out eviction drives as necessary. However, due to a manpower shortage, we are unable to monitor regularly, which remains a challenge," he added.​

 

[Saif]

River excavation must be done right

The plight of Mayur River shows where the problem lies

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River excavation must be done right
The plight of Mayur River shows where the problem lies

VISUAL: STAR

The deterioration of Mayur River, once a lifeline for Khulna residents, has happened right in front of our eyes, as has the repeated failure to revive it. Over the years, we have published a number of reports on how it is being choked by encroachments of all sorts, unregulated fish farming, ill-advised dams, and unchecked pollution, with about 26 drains pouring most of Khulna city's waste into it. Against this backdrop, the excavation projects were meant to breathe new life into the river. But instead, they have further contributed to its decline.

According to a recent report by this daily, two excavation projects taken up by the city corporation—one in 2014 and another in 2023—have failed to deliver any meaningful improvement. During a recent visit by our Khulna correspondent, the river was seen occupied by a makeshift bamboo dam, with sand being dumped at several points. Meanwhile, old problems persist as the river remains choked with silt, hyacinths, and waste, with no visible improvement in its water flow or quality. This raises serious questions about the planning and execution of such projects.

Over the years, failed or harmful excavation efforts have been reported across the country. Unfortunately, despite river dredging being routine work, the relevant authorities often do it wrong, and in isolation, without linking it up with other interventions—such as eviction, de-cluttering, and stopping other harmful and invasive activities on rivers—necessary to make its impact lasting. In Khulna alone, such cases abound.

Over the years, failed or harmful excavation efforts have been reported across the country. Unfortunately, despite river dredging being routine work, the relevant authorities often do it wrong, and in isolation, without linking it up with other interventions—such as eviction, de-cluttering, and stopping other harmful and invasive activities on rivers—necessary to make its impact lasting. In Khulna alone, such cases abound. For example, in 2022, we reported an initiative by the Mongla port authorities to dump the debris excavated from Pashur River on vast swathes of farmland, threatening soil fertility and the livelihoods of thousands. That same year, we also wrote about the Bhadra River, which, despite being excavated only two years ago, silted up again as dug-up earth fell back into it. This has been more or less the running theme of our dredging or de-siltation initiatives, with excavated debris invariably making it back to the river.

The irony here is inescapable. River excavation is supposed to solve problems like navigability, pollution, and waterlogging. Instead, it is causing them anew, or creating new ones. If we truly want to revive our dying rivers, dredging must be treated as a means, not the goal. Excavation should be preceded by proper ecological assessments, involve local communities, and include clear plans for water sourcing, encroachment removal, pollution control, and maintenance. And the relevant authorities must coordinate better and be held accountable. Otherwise, we risk repeating the same failure until our rivers are beyond saving. The Mayur River stands as a grim reminder of what such failure looks like.​

 

[Saif]

No new industrial units within 10km of Sundarbans ECA

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will soon issue a gazette notification in this regard, officials said today

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No new industrial units within 10km of Sundarbans ECA

Photo: Courtesy/UNB

The government has decided to prohibit any new industrial unit and project from being established within 10 kilometres of the Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) surrounding the Sundarbans.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Environment and Climate Change Committee at the Secretariat with Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan in the chair yesterday.

The ministry will soon issue a gazette notification in this regard, officials said.

A panel of experts will assess the environmental impact of existing industrial units within 10km of the ECA. Based on these assessments and existing court orders, further decisions will be made regarding those establishments.

The meeting also approved amendments to the Climate Change Trust Rules allowing joint project proposals from government, private organisations, and NGOs.

It was also decided that all ministries will be consulted to formulate the next action plan to tackle noise pollution.

Besides, a target was set to ensure that at least 30 percent of bricks used in public and private construction are concrete blocks by 2025.

A coordination meeting at the secretary level will be held in May to follow up on the implementation.​