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

[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...

www.thedailystar.net

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.
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"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.

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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).​