Environmental Politics in Bangladesh: Power vs Protection

Although environmental issues receive widespread attention in Bangladesh, they are often neglected in practice. While the public is generally familiar with the causes, impacts, and solutions surrounding environmental degradation, discourse remains largely confined to mainstream media outlets and press coverage.


Industrial waste, air pollution, deforestation, natural disasters, and harmful agricultural and fishery inputs pose serious threats to our future. The main conflict lies between those who gain immediate financial benefits from environmentally harmful activities and the broader public, which bears the long-term consequences. Politicians often seek to demonstrate success through short-term GDP growth and job creation, whereas environmentalists emphasise that such priorities can contribute to climate change and natural disasters, ultimately threatening future generations.

Dhaka suffers from severe air pollution caused largely by illegal brick kilns surrounding the city, alongside industrial waste responsible for various forms of pollution. Many of these illegal brick kilns are owned by local politicians with connections to high-ranking officials. Consequently, authorities assisted by environmentalists face immense hurdles in taking punitive action, often leaving victims and activists dealing with administrative indifference and helplessness.

Although the Constitution of Bangladesh includes provisions such as Article 18A and the Environment Court Act 2010, the practical enforcement of these laws is rarely observed when political interests are involved. Environmental protection and advocacy are deeply connected with politics, policymaking, and the balance of power. Numerous national and international laws remain mere written documents rather than applied practices due to a lack of political willingness. While political figures often feature environmental protection in their campaign promises, these commitments quickly lose priority once they take office.

Civic and legal vanguards, including the Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), and grassroots groups, play a crucial role in defending environmental rights. Through public interest litigation, community mobilisation and awareness campaigns, they challenge institutional apathy, bureaucratic inertia, political protection of offenders, illegal land grabbing, river pollution and hazardous infrastructure projects. Despite significant resistance and enforcement challenges, their efforts remain an important check on corporate and political impunity.

At times, environmental campaigns challenge major development projects initiated by the government or commercial interests. In response, activists may face physical intimidation, arrests and legal obstacles. Such pressure can discourage grassroots activism and restrict public scrutiny of projects with potentially serious ecological consequences.

Amid these challenges, there is hope: the High Court has delivered several landmark judgments in favour of environmental movements, strengthening legal frameworks and boosting advocacy power. Furthermore, prominent political leadership in international climate change forums has helped secure funds for environmental protection, aiding domestic ecological conservation efforts.

A fundamental conflict arises because environmentalists aim to safeguard natural resources, whereas politicians may prioritise political or personal interests. Although the government appears committed to environmental conservation, the primary challenge is to rein in political allies and ensure strict adherence to environmental laws. Ensuring such compliance will be vital to protecting our natural resources and effectively combating climate change.