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

[Saif]

Intent was good, but poor execution failed plastic ban

In 2002, in a revolutionary move, Bangladesh became the first country to ban thin plastic bags. Needless to say, it failed to achieve any tangible success. More initiatives in the later years also ended with similar results.

www.thedailystar.net

Intent was good, but poor execution failed plastic ban
Says president of the association for diversified jute products manufacturers

Md Rashedul Karim Munna

In 2002, in a revolutionary move, Bangladesh became the first country to ban thin plastic bags. Needless to say, it failed to achieve any tangible success. More initiatives in the later years also ended with similar results. Following the political changeover in 2024, the interim government renewed a crackdown on plastic, with Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan ordering a ban on polythene bags in supermarkets and grocery stores from October last year. A year later, it appears that crackdown yielded little result yet again.

According to Md Rashedul Karim Munna, president of the Bangladesh Jute Diversified Products Manufacturers and Exporters Association, the problem lies not in intent but in execution.

"Without strong coordination across ministries, support for plastic producers to transition, and mass awareness among consumers, the ban risks falling short just as similar efforts have in the past," Munna told The Daily Star in an exclusive interview recently.

As part of the anti-plastic efforts, the government has recently banned three single-use plastic items, including straws and cotton buds, within the Secretariat from October 2, 2025.

Munna praised the government's intent but warned that symbolic actions cannot replace a comprehensive strategy. "Announcements alone won't bring results unless backed by serious planning."

He pointed out that more than 100 countries, including EU members and Australia, have successfully implemented bans or restrictions on single-use plastics.

"What these countries did differently is they prepared the population," he said. "They ran awareness campaigns, increased taxes on harmful materials, and offered financial support to businesses producing alternatives."

In contrast, he noted that Bangladesh relied on policy declarations and limited pilot projects.

For example, the government allocated Tk 15 crore for Dhaka and Tk 10 crore for Chattogram to promote jute bags under a Climate Development Fund project. "It is not enough to create lasting change. Without wide-scale awareness and real alternatives, people will always fall back on plastic."

He also pointed to the absence of a transition plan for workers in the plastic manufacturing sector.

"The people making plastic products are not our enemies. If we support them to switch to alternatives, they will consider it. Right now, they feel left out of the conversation," he said, adding that this is helping fuel underground and illegal production.

He also said the bans are usually imposed without prior consultation with plastic sector stakeholders.

The diversified jute goods producer stressed the need for targeted financial support, training, and subsidies to help manufacturers adapt equipment and retrain staff for jute-based or recyclable alternatives.

Moreover, he stated that some industry resistance has practical reasons. "Sectors like cement or fertiliser need coated bags to prevent leakage. Regular jute bags don't work for them," he explained, calling for government-backed R&D and technical support to modernise packaging systems.

"People will not change their habits unless they understand what's at stake. And it's not just the environment, there are serious health risks tied to plastic use," he said, linking growing prevalence of cancer, kidney and liver issues to toxins and microplastics leaching into the environment and food.

He called on researchers and the media to educate the public. "If people realise that avoiding plastic protects their health and their children's future, they will start making the switch."

According to Munna, the key to success lies in a long-term, strategic action plan with clear targets and deadlines. On top of this, there needs to be improved coordination between the environment, industry, commerce, and customs ministries.

"Right now, the environment ministry is taking the lead, but implementation is weak because others are not aligned," he said. "Without proper enforcement and accountability, this will become just another paper policy."

He recommended giving enforcement bodies clear authority and resources, and improving waste management systems to support recycling.

When asked why stronger action has not yet been taken, Munna pointed to the lack of public pressure and political will. He remains hopeful, however, that change is possible.

"We don't want to be opponents of the plastic industry. We want to help them transition," he said. "If there is awareness, support, and enforcement, this can be a success story like the garment industry's transformation after Rana Plaza."

He cited examples like Coca-Cola and other global brands moving toward recyclable packaging, arguing that even large corporations are shifting, and Bangladesh can too.

"The time to act is now. With smart planning, we can protect our environment, promote local industries, and safeguard public health – all at the same time," he said.​

 

[Saif]

newagebd.net/post/country/283254/new-law-for-wider-wildlife-protection-on-table

New law for wider wildlife protection on table
Sadiqur Rahman 25 November, 2025, 23:24

A new wildlife ordinance would define the hunting of 246 wildlife species as a non-bailable offence, expanding a provision that is currently applied only to the killing of tigers and elephants.

The environment, forest and climate change ministry has recently drafted an ordinance for the conservation and security of wildlife, also defining cruelty against animals.

The draft ordinance, once approved, will replace the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act 2012.

Wildlife experts have welcomed the move but strongly emphasised the need for its proper implementation.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the environment, forest and climate change, and water resources ministries, recently told New Age, ‘The law is being updated to curb ongoing crimes against wildlife and to ensure their survival in the future, so that the next elected government does not undo these changes.’

The ministry completed receiving public opinions on the draft on November 20 and is now processing the document for vetting.

According to the draft, hunting 246 scheduled animals and birds, including 66 mammals such as tiger, elephant, fishing cat, Asiatic black bear, civet and dolphin; 106 bird species; 44 reptiles including crocodile and turtle; and 29 amphibians including Indian bullfrog and whale shark, would be considered a non-bailable offence.

Under the draft law, hunting tigers and elephants would be punishable with a minimum of two and a maximum of seven years’ imprisonment, or a fine of Tk 1–10 lakh, or both. Anyone who would repeat the offence would face 12 years’ imprisonment and a fine of Tk 15 lakh.

Hunting any of the other 244 scheduled animals would be punished with three to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of Tk 3–5 lakh.

The draft also designates any harmful activity within sanctuaries and national parks as a non-bailable offence.

These harmful activities include illegal trespassing, picnicking, cultivation, industrial activities, destruction of wildlife habitats and wetlands, introduction of exotic, alien or invasive species, releasing domestic animals for foraging, dumping hazardous materials, and extraction of minerals.

Currently, the country has 27 wildlife and wetland-dependent animal sanctuaries, including those in the east and west Sundarban, and 19 national parks, including Bhawal National Park in Gazipur and Nijhum Dwip National Park in Noakhali.

The draft further defines cruelty against wildlife.

According to the draft, punishable offences include beating wildlife, harassing them, blindfolding them, detaining them unnecessarily, intimidating them, causing distress during transport, killing them using electric fencing, and posting videos of cruelty against wildlife on social media.

Anyone who would commit these offences would face one to two years’ imprisonment and a fine of Tk 1–2 lakh.

Praising the updating of the law, wildlife expert Professor M Monirul H Khan stressed the need for its enforcement for survival of the wildlife in the future.

Monirul, a zoology teacher at Jahangirnagar University, said, ‘Even under the existing law, killing wildlife is a punishable offence, yet they are being killed frequently. The law is not being properly enforced.’

According to Forest Department data, since the enactment of the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act in 2012, 332 cases have been lodged and around 260 people have been punished with short-term imprisonment or fines by mobile courts until June 2025.

Noting that the pace of enforcement is inadequate, wildlife experts have long been demanding exemplary punishment for wildlife crime perpetrators.​

 

[Krishna with Flute]

newagebd.net/post/country/283254/new-law-for-wider-wildlife-protection-on-table

New law for wider wildlife protection on table
Sadiqur Rahman 25 November, 2025, 23:24

View attachment 22610

A new wildlife ordinance would define the hunting of 246 wildlife species as a non-bailable offence, expanding a provision that is currently applied only to the killing of tigers and elephants.

The environment, forest and climate change ministry has recently drafted an ordinance for the conservation and security of wildlife, also defining cruelty against animals.

The draft ordinance, once approved, will replace the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act 2012.

Wildlife experts have welcomed the move but strongly emphasised the need for its proper implementation.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the environment, forest and climate change, and water resources ministries, recently told New Age, ‘The law is being updated to curb ongoing crimes against wildlife and to ensure their survival in the future, so that the next elected government does not undo these changes.’

The ministry completed receiving public opinions on the draft on November 20 and is now processing the document for vetting.

According to the draft, hunting 246 scheduled animals and birds, including 66 mammals such as tiger, elephant, fishing cat, Asiatic black bear, civet and dolphin; 106 bird species; 44 reptiles including crocodile and turtle; and 29 amphibians including Indian bullfrog and whale shark, would be considered a non-bailable offence.

Under the draft law, hunting tigers and elephants would be punishable with a minimum of two and a maximum of seven years’ imprisonment, or a fine of Tk 1–10 lakh, or both. Anyone who would repeat the offence would face 12 years’ imprisonment and a fine of Tk 15 lakh.

Hunting any of the other 244 scheduled animals would be punished with three to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of Tk 3–5 lakh.

The draft also designates any harmful activity within sanctuaries and national parks as a non-bailable offence.

These harmful activities include illegal trespassing, picnicking, cultivation, industrial activities, destruction of wildlife habitats and wetlands, introduction of exotic, alien or invasive species, releasing domestic animals for foraging, dumping hazardous materials, and extraction of minerals.

Currently, the country has 27 wildlife and wetland-dependent animal sanctuaries, including those in the east and west Sundarban, and 19 national parks, including Bhawal National Park in Gazipur and Nijhum Dwip National Park in Noakhali.

The draft further defines cruelty against wildlife.

According to the draft, punishable offences include beating wildlife, harassing them, blindfolding them, detaining them unnecessarily, intimidating them, causing distress during transport, killing them using electric fencing, and posting videos of cruelty against wildlife on social media.

Anyone who would commit these offences would face one to two years’ imprisonment and a fine of Tk 1–2 lakh.

Praising the updating of the law, wildlife expert Professor M Monirul H Khan stressed the need for its enforcement for survival of the wildlife in the future.

Monirul, a zoology teacher at Jahangirnagar University, said, ‘Even under the existing law, killing wildlife is a punishable offence, yet they are being killed frequently. The law is not being properly enforced.’

According to Forest Department data, since the enactment of the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act in 2012, 332 cases have been lodged and around 260 people have been punished with short-term imprisonment or fines by mobile courts until June 2025.

Noting that the pace of enforcement is inadequate, wildlife experts have long been demanding exemplary punishment for wildlife crime perpetrators.​

If people puts a collective effort, A community, village, city or nation can be made very beautiful. BD should try hard to make BD more livable and beautiful. Like what sadguru had said, I tried to plant trees in the mind of people for a long long time. They are now being, transplanted on soil. After the clean India moment of Modi ji, India has become clean. Lots of children, who happened to die because of cholera are not dying because of batter hygine. Plant more trees, do water harvesting, improve soil quality, focus on recycling, BD can make a real progress.

 

[Saif]

Bay of Bengal’s slow death threatens our future

Marine fish populations have plummeted at a rate scientists describe as catastrophic.

www.thedailystar.net

Bay of Bengal’s slow death threatens our future

Allowing illegal trawlers to operate, letting industrial vessels destroy sea beds, and ignoring scientific warnings will only lead to the Bay of Bengal's slow death. FILE PHOTO: RAJIB RAIHAN

Bangladesh woke up this week to one of the most alarming environmental findings in its recent history. According to a report in The Daily Star, marine fish populations inside the country's exclusive economic zone in the Bay of Bengal have plummeted at a rate scientists describe as catastrophic. In just seven years, nearly four-fifths of the bay's fish that live in the pelagic zone—neither close to the sea-bed nor the shore—have vanished. This is not a routine decline. It is a collapse—rapid, severe, and potentially irreversible.

To grasp the magnitude of this collapse, consider that global fisheries scientists sound alarms when stocks fall by 30 to 40 percent. A 50 percent decline signals a crisis. But an 80 percent drop in less than a decade suggests a system on the edge of ecological failure. Collapses of this speed and scale have devastated fisheries in Canada's Newfoundland, the United States's California, and Peru in South America—regions where recovery took decades and, in some cases, never fully occurred. Bangladesh is now facing a similar possibility, and the consequences will be far-reaching if urgent action is not taken.

The news report attributes the collapse to several causes: overfishing, illegal fishing, and destructive fishing practices. These represent real, daily patterns of exploitation that have pushed the bay to exhaustion. Industrial trawlers—both legal and illegal—scrape the seabed with gear that destroys marine habitats, kills juvenile fish, and leaves entire zones barren. Many vessels routinely under-report their catch, operate in restricted zones, or violate seasonal bans. Meanwhile, small-scale artisanal fishermen, who are the backbone of coastal economies, are now forced into deeper and more dangerous waters because nearshore fish have been depleted.

Bangladesh's regulatory framework is simply not equipped to handle this level of pressure. The country authorises far more industrial trawlers than its marine ecology can sustain. Monitoring is inadequate. Enforcement is sporadic. Coast guard resources are overstretched. Illegal operators often escape accountability through political protection or bribery. Scientific research capacity remains thin, leaving policymakers without accurate stock assessments or long-term ecological modelling.

The collapse in fish stock will not only affect marine biodiversity; it will shake the foundations of national nutrition and coastal economies. Marine fish supply makes up nearly 15 percent of Bangladesh's total animal protein intake. A sharp decline will raise food insecurity, increase protein deficiency, and widen nutritional inequality. For crores of coastal residents—from fishers and boatmen to traders, processors, and transport workers—marine fisheries are the primary source of income. A collapse in marine stocks means declining catch, lower earnings, rising debt, and a slide into deeper destitution. Coastal districts, already battered by cyclones, erosion, and salinity, will face additional economic hardship.

There is also a geopolitical dimension. As fish stocks decline, cross-border tensions over marine resources in the bay may intensify. Countries around the Bay of Bengal—India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka—are also grappling with declining fish populations. Competition for dwindling resources often leads to arrests of fishermen, maritime disputes, and escalations that strain diplomatic relations. Bangladesh cannot afford to let ecological collapse feed into geopolitical instability.

The nutritional consequences are equally serious. Bangladesh is already dealing with rising food inflation, reduced dietary diversity, and a growing burden of non-communicable diseases linked to a poor diet. Marine fish—comparatively affordable, accessible, and protein-rich—have long been a nutritional anchor for the poor. When fish disappear, households will be forced to shift to inferior protein sources or go without, accelerating hidden hunger, childhood stunting, and micronutrient deficiency.

This crisis reflects decades of policy neglect, political interference, weak enforcement, and an absence of a long-term vision for marine governance. Bangladesh possesses marine laws on paper, but laws do not protect oceans—institutions do. Without sustained political commitment, transparency, and science-based decision-making, no legal framework can prevent ecological collapse.

Two options are open for Bangladesh. The first is the continuation of the status quo, a path of slow death for the bay: allowing illegal trawlers to operate, letting industrial vessels destroy sea beds, ignoring scientific warnings and pretending that fish stocks will replenish themselves. If Bangladesh chooses this path, the collapse will deepen, and the bay may reach a point where recovery becomes impossible within a generation. The poor will suffer first and most, but eventually, urban consumers, national nutrition, and geopolitical stability will also be affected.

The other path is one of urgent recovery that demands political courage and institutional reform. First, Bangladesh must dramatically reduce the number of industrial trawlers. Many countries have implemented trawler buy-back programmes to reduce pressure on marine ecosystems; Bangladesh may need to consider similar policies. Second, enforcement must be strengthened, with modern vessel-tracking systems, real-time monitoring, and a fully empowered coast guard. Third, scientifically guided seasonal bans and no-take zones must be enforced without exception. Breeding grounds and nursery habitats have to be protected if the bay is to heal.

Fourth, Bangladesh must invest in marine science. The country needs updated stock assessments, habitat mapping, and ecosystem modelling to craft policies based on evidence rather than intuition. Finally, coastal communities must be supported with alternative livelihoods—aquaculture, eco-tourism, value-added fish processing—so that conservation does not come at the expense of human survival. In all of this, timing is crucial. The window for action is narrowing quickly.

Bangladesh has shown resilience in many areas of national life. Whether that resilience can be reactivated—decisively, intelligently, and urgently—will determine not only the future of the ocean but the future of crores of people who depend on it. The Bay of Bengal is a living asset, not an inexhaustible warehouse. Once its life collapses, no policy can bring it back quickly.

This generation has a choice to make. It can allow the bay to die slowly, its fishery wealth drained by neglect and exploitation; or it can act decisively by protecting, restoring, and managing the ocean with the seriousness the crisis demands.

Dr Abdullah A Dewan is professor emeritus of economics at Eastern Michigan University in the US and a former physicist and nuclear engineer of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission.​

 

[Saif]

‘Air pollution does not discriminate; it impacts everyone’

At the household level, many families still lack access to clean cooking energy.

www.thedailystar.net

‘Air pollution does not discriminate; it impacts everyone’

Pema Gyamtsho

Pema Gyamtsho, director general of Nepal-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), shared his views with Porimol Palma of The Daily Star on the challenges and potential solutions to air pollution during a workshop in Nepal in late November.

According to a Lancet report this year, Bangladesh recorded 225,000 deaths linked to air pollution in 2022. The situation is similar in other South Asian countries. Could you tell us more about this?

We cannot attribute all deaths directly to air pollution because it is not like someone shooting another person. Air pollution kills gradually, often in combination with other factors. However, it is one of the leading causes of mortality, including premature deaths. In South Asia—one of the most polluted regions in the world—air pollution is a major cause of premature deaths and illnesses such as tuberculosis, cancer, and more. It also impacts quality of life; people with respiratory diseases suffer constantly. Statistics from Nepal indicate that air pollution reduces the average life expectancy by three to four years. This is likely true for many countries in the region.

Air pollution also creates social and psychological impacts—schools close, children remain indoors, flights are disrupted, tourism declines, and businesses sometimes shut down because people cannot go outside. Seasonal pollution from wildfires and the burning of crop residue can be severe and cause major economic damage. Pollution also harms agriculture; plants covered in dust or black carbon cannot photosynthesise properly.

What are the main causes of air pollution in this region?

At the household level, many families still lack access to clean cooking energy. They burn firewood, biomass, or even dried dung, especially at high altitudes. Indoor cooking is a major problem, with many remote homes having poor ventilation. In urban centres such as Kathmandu, Delhi, Dhaka, and Karachi, the transport sector is a significant contributor, particularly through fossil fuel use. Industries, including brick kilns and cement factories, emit large quantities of fine particulate matter like PM2.5. Workers in these sectors are among the most vulnerable. Wildfires, whether deliberate or accidental, particularly in March and April, also significantly degrade air quality. These are some of the principal causes.

Many of these factors are related to the economy. We cannot shut down industries or transport immediately. Where can we begin?

It's true, we cannot halt these overnight, but we must find ways to address them. Some issues are behavioural. For example, people still burn rubbish even when waste collection services are available. These practices can be changed. There is a significant shift towards electric vehicles, but we need to go further. Cities like Kathmandu and Dhaka should prioritise developing public transport systems, such as electric buses or trams. Individual electric vehicles alone will eventually congest roads. Countries like Nepal and Bhutan have abundant hydropower and should invest in clean, mass transit options. Electricity is available for clean cooking, but cost remains a challenge for poor households. Governments must prioritise subsidising clean cooking technologies; many still rely on kerosene or other fossil fuels. Public transport subsidies, cleaner industrial technologies, and affordable solutions are vital. Technology exists—in Nepal and Pakistan, brick kilns have successfully been converted to ZigZag technology, reducing black carbon emissions by around 60 percent and carbon dioxide by about 50 percent. Bangladesh is also promoting this. We need to expand these initiatives.

Pollution is transboundary. For example, polluted air blows from Punjab and Lahore into Bangladesh. How should we address this?

Many pollution sources are not local; emissions drift across borders. We need an airshed approach, similar to a watershed approach. An airshed is the shared airspace linking emission sources to their final sinks across regions. That's why we are working across the Indo-Gangetic plains, Himalayas, and foothills, bringing together Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan for real-time data sharing. We need standardised monitoring, measurement, and modelling systems so that data collected in Kathmandu can be understood in Bhutan or Bangladesh. Our monitoring working group, starting in 2022, is developing this capacity.

What progress have you made over the past two years?

We have made significant progress. The first step was recognising that air pollution requires a regional, transboundary approach because air does not respect borders. In December 2022, we held a stock-taking conference with reports from all countries and developed the Kathmandu Roadmap for Air Quality Improvement, supported by the World Bank and other partners, such as the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). We identified key stakeholders and shared best practices. In 2023, in Thimphu, Bhutan, we held the second science and policy dialogue, involving banks and the private sector. One key recommendation was to include finance in the strategy. Now, we have a science, policy, and finance dialogue, and three thematic working groups focused on monitoring, solutions, and investment. We are also planning a fourth group on communication to connect all stakeholders.

Cooperation at the regional level often faces fragmentation. How do you see this cooperation evolving?

We must be opportunistic. Air quality is one of the least politically contentious issues in the region. Everyone recognises its profound impact on health, environment, climate, and economy. This consensus provides a strong foundation for cooperation. Scientists are already collaborating, and policy officials are engaging as well. The next step is political commitment, but progress is steady.

What is your key message for politicians?

Air pollution does not discriminate; it impacts everyone. It's a critical issue that must be tackled collectively. Strengthening regional cooperation is essential.

What role can developed countries play?

First, we must help ourselves. If developed countries see us taking action, they are more likely to support us. Waiting passively for aid won't lead anywhere. Countries like India and China are investing heavily in renewable energy and electric mobility. Nepal has one of the highest per-capita electric vehicle use, and Bhutan and Nepal are rich in hydropower. These examples reflect commitment. Historically, developed nations have moved many polluting industries to our region, cleaning up their own backyards. Now, they need to support us in cleaning ours. This isn't begging—it's justified. Their support should focus on technology transfer, affordable clean technologies, targeted investments linked to emission reductions, and measurable outcomes. We must demonstrate our own commitment and provide evidence of progress.

You emphasise communication. How can the media contribute?

We want the media to be a key partner. Scientific data needs to be translated into policy, practice, and public awareness. Journalists can communicate in local languages and accessible formats. The media should act as a bridge between science, policy, and communities. That's why I propose including communication as a key pillar in the dialogue on air pollution.​