Key Environmental Issues in
Bangladesh
Md. Abdus Samad
Director
&
Mirza Shawkat Ali
Deputy Director
Department of Environment
5 October 2006
Chronological milestone events towards creation
of DoE and its development in phases
1972
Stockholm Conference
1973
Promulgation of water pollution control
ordinance (empowers Department of Public
Health Engineering to take action on water
pollution control)
1977
Creation of Environment Pollution Control Cell
Chronological milestone events towards creation
of DoE and its development in phases
1978
Cell undertakes Environment Pollution Control
Project with 118 manpower
1985
Cell and project merges, transfers into revenue and
retains only 70 manpower
1989
Creation of Department of Environment with
Director General as Head of the Department with
total manpower of 173
1992
Earth Summit at Rio
The First National Environment Policy declared
Chronological milestone events towards creation
of DoE and its development in phases
1995
2000
Promulgation of Environment Conservation Act
NEMAP
Promulgation of Environment Conservation Rules
SEMP
Promulgation of Environment Court Act
2001
Creation of Barisal & Sylhet Divisional Office
2002
WSSD at Johannesburg
2004
Govt. sanctions additional 53 manpower, total
manpower rises to 244
1997
What People expects from DoE
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Conserving environment
Enhancing the quality of Environment
Controlling & reducing pollution
Blending environment & development together
towards achieving sustainable development
How DoE Performs
It operates through Divisional Offices at the field level
Activities include:
 Routine activities
 Special activities / program
 Implementation of development projects
 Activities relating to Global and Regional
Environment Program, Conventions, Protocol &
Treaties
 Advisory Services
 Awareness Raising
Key Routine Activities
 Monitoring of ambient environment (Surface
water, ground water, air)
 Surveillance of potable water quality
 Survey & identification of polluting industries
 Undertake activities for pollution control of the
identified polluting industries
 Assessment of Application for issuance of
Environment Clearance
 Mobile courts for polluting vehicles
Key Routine Activities (Contd.)
 Anti polythene shopping bag campaign
 Activities relating to pollution control from brick
kilns
 Review of Government/non-government projects
and suggest appropriate environment
enhancement / mitigation measures
 Review of IEE, EIA/EMP reports
 Investigation against complaints
 Awareness raising activities
Special Programmes
 Pilot programmes on Industrial pollution control
at Madhahdi and Belkuchi
 Declaration of eight Ecologically Critical Areas
(ECAs);
 Noise pollution campaign
 Dhaka Environment Program
 Medical waste management
List of ICTP’s which DoE Looks After
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BASEL Convention
UNFCCC
 Kyoto Protocol
Montreal Protocol
UNCCD
Stockholm Convention
Rotterdam Convention
UN CBD
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Cartagena Protocol
Regional Programmes
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SAARC
SACEP
Milestone achievements
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Data bank on air quality for the last 3 years
Phasing out of 2 stroke 3 wheelers
Import of lead free gasoline
Reduction of Sulfur content in diesel
Introduction of CNG vehicle
Installation of CAMS at Dhaka and Chittagong
Milestone achievements (Contd.)
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120 ft. chimney of 80% of the brick kilns
Completion of inventories of POP’s Pesticide
and Chemicals (POPs phaseout)
Establishment of Climate Cell at DoE
Establishment of Ozone Cell at DoE
National Adaptation Program Action (NAPA)
completed and 15 priority project identified
Milestone achievements (Contd.)
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Establishment of Designated National Authority
for CDM projects
Preparation of National Phase-out plan for
Ozone Depleting Substances
Preparation of Environment Curricula under
SEMP
Winning different prestigious positions in
different convention/ Protocol bodies
Current Projects
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BEISP
AQMP
CWBMP
National Bio-safety Frame work
Climate Change Cell
ODS Phaseout projects
POPs Project
Implementation of Malé declaration
Vision
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Ensure Environmental Sustainability of the
Country, by ensuring
Sustainable Resource Management
 Conservation of Environment taking into
consideration of balanced economic development
of the country.
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Specific Activities to attain the
expect goals
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Development of a Comprehensive Enforcement and
Compliance Regime
Specific Activities
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All Large and medium Size Industries to have functional
Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) (on going)
Practice ISO 14001 (to start with Environment Management
System) in large and medium industries
Awareness raising for Small Industrial units for better
environmental management
Re-drafting ECA to cater the present and future needs
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Air Pollution Control
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Replacement of Existing Traditional Brick Kilns by Energy
Efficient Brick Kilns and Total Replacement of existing
traditional bricks with concrete hollow bricks
Emission testing will be the integral part of getting the
fitness certificate for vehicles
Enforce carrying of construction materials in covered
vehicles
Enforcement of Covered Construction work
Awareness raising program for lessening the indoor air
pollution.
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Climate Change
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Support to Private Sector to use efficient and cleaner
technology, with the support of Annex I parties to the
UNFCCC (Tech Transfer or under CDM proj.)
Climate Change Cell established.
Improve existing modeling capacity of prediction of
Climate Impact on Agriculture, fisheries, livelihoods,
infrastructure etc (PRECIS/on going)
Mainstream Climate Change issues into the
development process (on going/focal points)
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Sound Management of Chemicals
Proper Institutional system in place for better
control on Chemicals import, transportation and
handling for reducing impacts on health and env.
 Ensure proper follow-up of guidelines while using
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industrial chemicals, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers.
Help Ministry of Health to establish Chemical
Treatment Centre alongside Burn Units in
Government Hospitals.
Constraints of DoE
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Limited manpower
Capacity Building
Budget limitation
Lack of transport for field work
No office at district level
No legal support
Not much incentive for career officers
Way forward
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Implementation of DoE/BEMP strategic action Plan
Increased Manpower to cater the need of future
requirement
DoE officers to be en-cadered
Thank
you