Bangladesh Environmental Policy (1992).

Submitted To_ Submitted By_Najmun Nahar Presentation Group ‘06’Course Teacher of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) ID_ B-110602041, ’42, ’43, ’44, ‘45Dept. of Geography and Environment Dept. of Geography and Environment Jagannath University, Dhaka. Jagannath University, Dhaka.

Presentation On_

What is Environmental Policy and why?

An environmental policy may be defined as the statement of intentions and principles, which provides a framework for action and for setting of environmental objectives and goals.

It refers to the commitment of an organization to the laws, regulations, and other policy mechanisms concerning environmental issues.

Environmental Laws legal measures for the conservation and protection of the environment and ecology.

That (laws) lay down the rights and duties of citizens and public agencies in consonance with the global call for a healthy environment.

Environmental Policy of BangladeshBangladesh is recognized to be one of the most susceptible countries in the world, highly

vulnerable to climatic manifestations (short-term and long-term impacts of climate change). Due to its unique geographic location, hydro-geological characters like dominance of floodplains, low elevation from the sea and lastly the socio-economical characters like high population density, high levels of poverty, and overwhelming dependence on nature.

In the context of the environment, the Government of Bangladesh formulated an Environment Policy in 1992.

Objectives Environmental Policy in 1992

maintain ecological balance and overall development

protect the country against natural disasters

identify and regulate activities which pollute and degrade the environment

ensure environmentally sound development in all sectors

ensure sustainable use of all national resources

remain associated with all international environmental initiatives

Background of the Environment Policy formulation

In pursuance of the Stockholm mandate, the government of Bangladesh, like all other developing and developed countries, actively participated in the evolutionary process of protecting global environment.

As a result, the first Water Pollution Control Ordinance was published in 1973.

In 1985 Department of Pollution Control Ordinance was established which subsequently

renamed and structured as Department of Environment (DOE).

The idea of environmental protection through national efforts was first recognized and

declared with the adoption of the Environmental Policy 1992.

Cont…. In the formation of Environmental Policy, different actors and factors played some direct and

indirect roles. All the actors, whether external (United Nations General Assembly, international forum,

international organizations, donor agencies) or internal (environmental NGOs (CARDMA, BCAS, IUCN, FEJB, ADAB) government agencies i.e. Ministry of Environment and Forest (MOEF), DOE, Planning Commission, concerned ministries, consultants, bureaucrats, civil society and so on.) , played very pertinent roles in the formulation of the Environmental Policy.

An important step in this regard was the formulation of the national Environment Management Action Plan (NEMAP) by the Ministry of Environment with participation by some NGOs and other organizations.

Major features of the environment policy

The policy covered all geographical regions and 15 development sectors like_ Agriculture Industry Health and sanitation Energy and fuel Water development, flood

control and irrigation Land Forest, wildlife and

biodiversity Fisheries and livestock

Food Coastal and marine

environment Transport and

communication Housing and urbanization Population Education and public

awareness Science, technology and

research

Cont…Agriculture: Environmentally sound agricultural practices are to be encouraged andensured for attainment of self-sufficiency in food. Among the various specific measures,use of natural fertilizers and insecticides is encouraged as opposed to the application ofagro-chemicals and artificial materials exerting adverse impact on the environment.

Industry: Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for new industries, corrective measures for polluting industries, ban on establishment of polluting industries and development of environmentally sound and appropriate technology is required for sustainable and efficient utilization of natural resources.

Cont…Health and Sanitation: Healthy environment for rural and urban area, prevention of activities, which are harmful to public health and healthy workplaces for workers are to be ensured.

Energy and Fuel: Reduction of the use of fuel-wood and agricultural residues, exploring alternative energy resources, precautionary measures against potentially harmful use of nuclear energy and nuclear radiation, conservation of forest fuel and development of improved energy saving technology are recommended options for the sector. Apart from these, EIA has been made mandatory before implementing projects for exploration and extraction of fuel and mineral resources.

Cont… Water: Environmentally sound water resource management is suggested in utilization and development of water resources, construction of irrigation network and embankments, dredging of watercourses and in taking measures against river pollution. EIA is required before undertaking projects related to water resource development and flood control measures.Land: Activities that cause or result in land erosion, salinity and alkalinity, and loss of soil fertility are prohibited. Compatible land use systems for different ecosystems andenvironmentally sound management of newly accreted land are recommended.

Forest, Wildlife and Bio-diversity: Conservation and expansion of forest zones,conservation of wildlife and biodiversity and conservation of wetlands are recognized as priority areas for action.

Cont… Fisheries and Livestock: Conservation of fisheries and livestock, mangrove forest and

others ecosystems and prevention of activities that diminish the wetlands and natural habitats for fishes are the basic objectives in this sector.

Food: Hygienic and environmentally sound method of production, preservation, processing and distribution of food and measures to ensure prohibition of import of harmful food items are recommended.

Coastal and Marine Environment: Coastal and marine eco-systems are identified aspotential areas for intervention, where all internal and external polluting activities should be stopped. Fishing in coastal and marine environment within regeneration limits is recommended.

Cont… Transport and Communication: Road, rail, air and water transport systems should be operated without polluting the environment. EIA is required before undertaking anyprojects in these sectors.Housing and Urbanization: Environmentally sound planning and development of housing and urban centers is required. Existence of water bodies in the cities is recommended for maintaining environmental and ecosystem balance in the urban areas.Population: Planned and proper utilization of manpower including ensuring theparticipation and mainstreaming of women in all spheres is targeted for environmentally sound development activities.

Cont…Education and Public Awareness: Eradication of illiteracy through formal and non-formal education, building and raising public awareness of the environmental issues,dissemination of environmental knowledge and information are the policy guidelines for the conservation, improvement and sustainable use of natural resources.

Science, Technology and Research: Research and development institutes are required to consider the incorporation of the environmental issues in their research programs.

Proposed Legal framework Amend all laws to meet the present

day needs Frame new laws in all sectors

necessary to control pollution and degradation

Ensure implementation of laws and create public awareness

Ratify all concerned international laws/conventions/protocols and modify existing national laws in line with ratified international laws.

Considered Institutional Arrangements Ministry of Environment and Forest to

coordinate the policy implementation A National Environment Committee

chaired by head of govt. to give overalldirection

MoEF will perform timely amendments on the backdrop of changing state of environment and socio-economic another needs of the country

Department of Environment will review/approve all EIAs

Key Constraints for effective implementation of Environment policy The policies have adopted in principle the concept of sustainable development and it

has also recognized the importance of economic development that goes hand in hand with the control of environmental pollution and maintaining ecological balance.

The formulated Environment Policy although fairly rich in content is not supported by necessary actions of implementation.

Various research studies have noted that the implementation of the Environmental policy and the Environmental Protection Act have been bogged down due to some institutional and functional limitations_

Various operational rules for effective implementation of the Policy and Act would require complementary and detailed operational rules, many of which have not yet been formulated

Cont… Implementation of the Policy and Act demands a significant amount of funding and investment, which is hardly placed in the revenue and or development budget ofBangladesh.The DOE, the principal implementing agency severely lacks human and physicalresources to respond to the demanding tasks and responsibilities of both the Policy and the Act.Lack of Inter-agency coordination is one of the major causes of poor and inefficient use of the existing policy outline and rules on environmental protection and management.Empirical studies also noted that involvement of the effective engagement andparticipation of the community in various environment management and operationalinterventions have narrowed down the functional effectiveness of the policy and the Act.

ReferencesBBS (2004). Compendium of Environmental Statistics of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.Centre for Policy Dialogue (2001), CPD Task Force Report, Policy Brief on “Environmental Policy”,Centre for Policy Dialogue (2001), CPD Task Force Report, Policy Brief on “Environmental Policy”, Clemett , Alexandra, (2004) A Review of Environmental Policy and Legislation in Bangladesh, BEEL Environment Econiomics Unit (2006),Poverty and Environment in Bangladesh, Department of Economics,School of Economics and Commercial Law, Goteborg University,Farooque, M,Hasan, S. Rizwana, (1996) Laws Regulating Environment in Bangladesh, Dhaka: BELA.Government of Bangladesh (1998), Fifth Five Year Plan, Planning Commission,Government of Bangladesh(2008) Economic Survey, Ministry of Finance, Dhakahttp://lib.pmo.gov.bd/Policy.html

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