Introduction	Ecosystem	Pollution
Species of Special Concern	Climate

Introduction

Bangladesh is nestled in the crook of the Bay of Bengal, surrounded by India. It shares a border in the south-east with Myanmar and fronts onto the Bay of Bengal. The country is flat and dominated by the braided strands of the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Jamuna delta. Where Bangladesh ends and the sea begins is a murky zone of shifting sediments, watercourses, flood waters and silt. Over 90% of the country is composed of alluvial plains less than 10m above sea level, making it an inviting proposition to flood-prone rivers and tidal waves. The only relief from these low-lying plains occurs in the north-east and south-east corners where modest hills rise to an average height of around 240m (787ft) and 600m (1970ft) respectively.



Roughly two-thirds of Bangladesh is fertile arable land and a little over 10% remains forested. The country is home to the Royal Bengal tiger, leopards, Asiatic elephants (mostly migratory herds from Bihar), and a few remaining black bears. There are also plenty of monkeys, langurs, gibbons (the only ape on the subcontinent), otters and mongooses. Reptiles include the sea tortoise, mud turtle, river tortoise, pythons, crocodiles and a variety of bloody unpleasant poisonous snakes. There are more than 600 species of birds: the best known is the mynah but the most spectacular are the kingfishers and fishing eagles.

International Environmental Conventions, Treaties and Protocols Signed, Ratified or Accessed by Bangladesh

Convention/Treaty/Protocol related to environment	Date of Adoption/ Signature	Registration, Ratification, Accession (a), Succession (d)
International Plant Protection Convention, Rome, 1951		1 September 1978
International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by oil, London, 1954 (As amended on 11 April 1962 and 21 October 1969)		28 December 1981
Plant Protection Agreement for the South East Asia and Pacific Region (as amended) Rome, 1956		4 December 1974 a
Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere : in Outer Space and under Water, Moscow, 1963	13 March 1985
Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and use of outer space including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, London, Moscow, Washington, 1967		14 January 1986 a
International Convention Relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Oil Pollution Causalities, Brussels, 1969		4 February 1982
Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat, Ramsar, 1971 (Popularly known as Ramsar Convention)		20 April 1992
International Convention on the establishment of an international fund for compensation for oil pollution damage (as amended) Brussels, 1971. Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxic Weapons, and on Their Destruction, London, Moscow, Washington, 1972.		13 March 1985
Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, Paris, 1972		3 November 1983
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Spaces of Wild Fauna and Flora, Washington, 1973 (also known as CITES)	20 November 1981	18 February 1982
Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident, Vienna, 1986 [Entry into force: 7 February 1988]		7 January 1988
Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident of Radiological Emergency, Vienna, 1986 [Entry into force: 7 February 88 ]		7 January 1988
Agreement on the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, 1988		15 May 1990
International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation, London, 1990	30 November 1990
No. Environment Related International Conventions, Protocols and Treaties Signed Ratified/Accessed(AC)/ Accepted(AT)/ Adaptation (AD) Being Ratified 13a. London Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (London, 1990)   18.03.94 (AC) 16.06.94 (entry into force)   13b. Copenhagen Amendment to the Montreal protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, Copenhagen, 1992   27.11.2000 (AT) 26.2.2001 (Entry into force)   13c. Montreal Amendment of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, Montreal, 1997   27.7.2001 (Accepted) 26.10.2001 (Entry into force)   14. Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident (Vienna, 1986.) 07.01.88 (ratified)   07.02.88 (entry into force)   15. Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident of Radiological Emergency (Vienna, 1986.)   07.01.88 (ratified) 07.02.88 (entry into force)   16. Agreement on the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia and the Pacific (Bangkok, 1988.)   15.05.90 (ratified)   17. Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal (Basel, 1989.)   01.04.93 (AC)   18. International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation (London, 1990.) 30.11.90   In the process of ratification 19. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, (New York, 1992.) 09.06.92   15.04.94   20. Convention on Biological Diversity, (Rio De Janeiro,1992.) 05.06.92 03.05.94   21. International Convention to Combat Desertification, (Paris 1994.) 14.10.94  26.01.1996 (Ratification) 26.12.1996 (entry into force)   22. Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques, (Geneva, 1976.)   03.10.79 (AC) (entry into force)   23. Agreement Relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 (New York, 1994.) 28.07.96     24. Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 Relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks (New York, 1995.) 04.12.95     25. Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction (Paris, 1993.) 14.01.93     26. United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa (Paris, 1994.) 14.10.94 26.01.96   27. Convention on Nuclear Safety (Vienna, 1994.) 21.09.95 21.09.95 (AT)   28. Cartagena protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity 24.5.2000   In the process of ratification 29. Convention on persistent Organic Pollutants, Stockholm 23.5.2001   In the process of ratification 30. Kyoto protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change   21.8.2001 (AC) 11.12.1997 (AD)

source:Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh

Ministry of Environment and Forest (MOEF)

Ministry of Environment and Forest has two major department concerning environment., Department of Environment (DOE) and Department of Forest. Department of Environment is a technical agency and looks after the environmental planning, management, monitoring and enforcement of the environmental protection measures. Recently the Department was given new extensive powers on controlling air pollution, protecting habitats and conservation of soil, water and other natural resources, and setting environmental standards. It set standards on industrial and vehicular pollutants and noise. Major programs of the DOE are 1. Water quality monitoring at regional laboratories 2. Bangladesh Environment Management Project (BEMP) supported by Canadian Government 3. Sustainable Environment Management Program (SEMP) supported by UNDP and the World Bank 4. Capacity building for environmental legislation and policy analysis under BEMP 5. Institutional strengthening of DOE under BEMP 6. River water pollution control in Dhaka city 7. Establishment of wastewater treatment plants for handloom industries on cluster basis 8. Conversion of petrol and diesel operated vehicles into CNG, beginning with governmental vehicles 9. Promotion of self monitoring system in export processing zone and other major industrial areas 10. Promotion of public awareness on environmental management 11. Industrial surveys and pollution control Department of Forest is responsible for management and development of forest resources. It conducts forest study along with the Forest Sector Master Plan.

Organisations relevant to the Environment

Organization	Relevant Department	Activities
Ministry of Local Government Rural Development & Cooperatives	Department of Public Health and Engineering (DPHE)	quality at production wells in district centers since 1980. Study and control of arsenic contamination in groundwater Sanitation facilities and the associated hygiene education program
Ministry of Water Resources		Preparation of Participatory Water Management Guidelines (drafted in 1999)
Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB)		Countrywide monitoring of tube wells Monitoring of surface water salinity, suspended sediments Flood forecasting and warning Flood proofing, and disaster management River management
Water Resources Planning Organization (WARPO)		Sampling and analysis of pesticides residues Cyclone warning and dissemination Coastal protection Urban protection Water and Flood management Ground water utilization National Water Management Plan
Water and Sewerage Authority (Dhaka, Chittagong)		Periodic check of production wells Fecal pollution control Sanitation facilities and the associated hygiene education program
Ministry of Agriculture	Department of Agricultural Extension	Groundwater development potential assessment Preparation of Crop Policy (1998) Preparation of Irrigation Policy (1998) Preparation of National Agriculture Extension Policy (1997)
Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation		Fertilizers use

NGOs Among 1,007 NGOs working in Bangladesh, 251 are related to the environmental improvement and protection. Of these 201 NGOs are working in rural areas, 5 in urban area and the rest 45 is in both rural and urban area.

a) International Centre for Diahoreal Diseases Research, Bangladesh (ICDDRB)	Not described	Organic work
b) International Centre for Living Aquatic Resources Management (ICLARM)	Not described	Wetland management program
c) Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association	Not described	Environmental Legislation
d) Ford Foundation	Not described	National wetland policy (jointly with IUCN)
e) USA Fish and Wildlife	Not described	Asian Elephant conservation (Jointly with IUCN)
g) WWF: World Wild Fund for Nature	Not described	Global Agenda on mangrove and tiger (jointly with IUCN and MOEF)
g) PRISM Bangladesh	Not described	Waste recycling
h) Coastal Resource Development and ManagementAssociation (CARDMA)	Not described	Coastal resource management
i) UBINIG	Not described	Ecological agriculture
j) Forum of Environmental Journalism	Not described	Environmental training, workshop and publication
k) Society of Human and EnvironmentalDevelopment	Not described	Environmental training, workshop and publication
l) Community Development Library	Not described	Environmental training, workshop and publication Source

National Policy on the Environment

Policy	Formulated	Purpose	Authority
Fourth Five Year Plan (1990-95)	1990	1) Control pollution and degradation related to soil, water and air 2) Promote environment friendly activities in the development process 3) Preserve, protect and develop natural resources base 4) Strengthen the capabilities of public and private sectors to manage environmental concerns as a basic requisite for sustainable development 5)Create people’s awareness for participation in environment promotion activities	Ministry of Environment and Forest
National Environmental Policy	1992	1) Maintenance of the ecological balance and overall progress and development of the country through protection and improvement of the environment 2) Protection of the country against natural disaster 3) Identification and control of all types activities related to pollution and degradation of the environment 4) Environmentally sound development in all sectors 5) Utilization of all natural resources with long-term environmental sustainability 6) Active involvement to all environmental fields with international initiatives	Ministry of Environment and Forest
National Environment Management Action Plan (NEMAP)	1992	The Action Plan presents actual actions to achieve the objective mentioned in the National Environmental Policy covering 17 fields of the environment with emphasis on the people’s participation in the process for formulating the plan.	Ministry of Environment and Forest
Fifth Five Year Plan (1997-2002)	1997	To protect and preserve the environment by putting in place adequate regulatory regimes and effective institutions, keeping in view the need for regeneration, recycling and optimum exploitation of natural resources consistent with sustainable development	Ministry of Environment and Forest

Environmental Laws and Regulations

Laws and relevant	Description	Authority
Environmental Conservation Act of 1995	The Environmental Conservation Act of 1995 empowered the MOEF to formulate rules and guidelines for the management. It also designates DOE responsible for enforcing the 1997 EIA procedures Air pollution, water pollution, noise	Ministry of Environment and Forest
Environmental Conservation Rules of 1995	Air pollution, water pollution, noise	Ministry of Environment and Forest
EIA Guidelines of Industries of 1997	The EIA Process is categorized into four classes, that is, green, amber A, amber B, and red, according to the degree of impacts	Ministry of Environment and Forest
Environmental Pollution Control Ordinance 1997	including national water quality standards according to the WHOguidelines, air quality standards, noise, solid waste management	Ministry of Environment and Forest
Factories Act 1965	Air pollution. occupational health
Motor Vehicles Act 1939	Air pollution, noise
National Water Policy 1999	Water pollution, water resources management
Non Agricultural Tenancy Act 1947	Land use
State Acquisition and Tenancy Act 1950	Land use
Acquisition f Waste Land Act 1950	Land use
Town Improvement Act 1950	Land use
Municipality Ordinance1977	Land use
Local Government Ordinance 1982