Demands for Political Will and Inter-Ministerial Coordination
by Rita Bhowmik (Dhaka Bureau)
Ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election in Bangladesh, eminent citizens and environmentalists have issued a stern demand to the government to protect the country’s endangered haors (wetlands), canals, and water bodies. They warned that if the enforcement of existing laws and the lack of inter-ministerial coordination are not addressed, the country will face a catastrophic environmental disaster in the near future.
The speakers made these remarks on Thursday (January 29) at a seminar titled ‘Beels, Haors, and Wetlands of Bangladesh in Crisis: Sustainable Conservation through People’s Participation,‘ organized by the Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD) in Lalmatia, Dhaka.
Alarming State of Wetlands
The keynote paper presented at the seminar revealed that, according to a 1971 survey conducted after independence, the country had 9.3 million hectares of wetlands. Currently, that figure has plummeted by 70%, leaving only 2.8 million hectares. The situation in the capital, Dhaka, is particularly dire:
* 85% of Dhaka’s wetlands have disappeared over the last 30 years.
* 47 once-thriving canals have vanished from the map.
* According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), wetlands remain in only 3% of Dhaka’s total area.
As a result, the groundwater level is dropping at an alarming rate. In 1996, Dhaka’s water table was at 25 meters; by 2024, it has sunk to 86 meters.
Lack of Coordination and Legal Hurdles
Citing the ‘Haor and Wetland Conservation Ordinance, 2026,’ speakers noted that despite having legal provisions, no effective measures are being taken due to inter-ministerial conflict and lack of coordination. Administrative ‘tug-of-war’ between the Ministry of Land and the Haor Board is preventing critical areas like Chalan Beel or the Haor regions from being declared ‘protected.’
Shamsul Huda, Executive Director of ALRD, stated, ‘We must redefine ‘development.’ It is essential for the state to discourage development that destroys the environment. We are pressuring candidates to include wetland protection in their upcoming election manifestos.’
Local Crises and the ‘Encroachment Festival’
Representatives from various parts of the country highlighted local crises:
* Chalan Beel: Representatives from the Tarash area reported that, despite the ‘Land Crime Prevention and Redress Act, 2023,’ illegal pond digging and filling of marshes continue under political patronage.
* Savar and Buriganga: Unplanned industrialization and over-extraction of groundwater in Savar have led to forecasts of a severe water crisis within 20–25 years. Local residents alleged corruption and legal loopholes in the boundary demarcation of the Buriganga River.
* Haor Region: The road communication system built in the Kishoreganj Haors was criticized as unplanned, obstructing the natural flow of water.
International Water Politics and Demands
Environmentalists lamented that while Bangladesh signed the 1992 International Water Convention, it has not ratified or implemented the 1997 Convention. Consequently, the country lags in legal battles to secure a fair share of water from trans boundary rivers. The construction of the ‘Ganges Barrage’ was reiterated as a vital demand of the people.
Key Recommendations
At the conclusion of the seminar, civil society raised several specific demands:
1. National Agenda: Wetland conservation must be an inseparable part of the national development agenda.
2. Political Will: The newly elected government must be uncompromising in law enforcement and eviction drives against encroachers.
3. Public Participation: Utilize the ‘indigenous knowledge’ of local and marginalized communities to protect wetlands.
4. Curriculum: Include the importance of the environment and ecology in school textbooks.
The seminar was attended by representatives from various environmental organizations, including Sheikh Rokon of Riverine People and Professor Shakil Akter of BUET.
Speakers agreed that protecting rivers and wetlands is not just an environmental issue- it is intrinsically linked to freedom of speech and a democratic environment.
The Author:
Rita Bhowmick: Senior Journalist and Correspondent, Pressenza- Dhaka Bureau.