Bangladesh’s Environmental Challenges: Forest Recovery Gains, but Pollution Persists

Despite having action plans in place to tackle air and river pollution, Bangladesh continues to struggle with comprehensive environmental protection.

Over the past year, the caretaker government has made progress in certain areas, most notably in reclaiming forest land. Since 5 August 2024, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has revoked earlier project allocations and restored nearly 10,000 acres of forest land to state ownership.

Efforts to reduce the use of polythene, however, have been largely unsuccessful, drawing widespread criticism. In Cox’s Bazar, forest restoration has offered some relief, yet data from the Forest Department shows that 19 elephants — already on the brink of extinction — have died in the past year. In response, a dedicated elephant conservation program has now been initiated.

The ministry had also pledged to free at least one river from encroachment and pollution, but that commitment has not yet been realized. On a positive note, a joint list prepared by the National River Protection Commission and the Water Development Board has officially confirmed that Bangladesh has 1,294 rivers.

To combat noise pollution, the Department of Environment declared Shahjalal International Airport and the Secretariat area as “silent zones.” Despite awareness drives, noise levels in these zones remain unregulated.

Meanwhile, indiscriminate garbage burning in areas such as Imamganj Beribadh in Dhaka continues to fill the air with toxic smoke, worsening both environmental and public health conditions.

Forest and Land Use

During previous administrations, large tracts of reserved forest land were allocated for mega projects — including a football academy in Ramu, a civil service academy in Shuknachhari, and an economic zone in Sonadia. Allocations of over 9,000 acres were cancelled last year and placed back under the Forest Department’s control.

The government also scrapped a controversial plan to build a safari park in Sylhet’s Lathitila forest, which would have cost Tk 1,000 crore. In total, about 5,100 acres of forest land were recovered between August 2024 and June 2025. Planting of invasive species such as eucalyptus and akashmoni has been banned, and two beels in Rajshahi have been declared wetland sanctuaries.

Still, more than 138,000 acres of forest land remain under illegal occupation across 24 districts. Land grabbers, particularly in Gazipur, Chattogram, and Cox’s Bazar, continue to pose a challenge.

In Madhupur, initiatives have begun to restore the natural Shal forest. As part of a master plan, 750 acres have already been replanted with Shal and other native species, with 1,100 more acres set to follow.

Saint Martin’s Biodiversity Efforts

To protect the fragile ecosystem of Saint Martin’s Island, restrictions on tourist inflows have been enforced. Tourists will be allowed only day trips in November, while December and January will permit overnight stays for up to 2,000 visitors per day. From February, tourist access will be halted altogether. A Tk 7 crore program has also been launched to provide alternative livelihoods for local residents dependent on tourism.

Pollution Concerns

Despite a government order banning polythene bags in superstores and shopping malls, kitchen markets continue widespread use due to the lack of cheap alternatives. Around 50 tonnes of polythene have been confiscated in the last two months, but the practice persists.

The Environment Ministry has also begun installing CCTV monitoring in factories to check whether effluent treatment plants (ETPs) are being used. But oversight is inconsistent, and enforcement remains weak.

Air pollution remains one of the most pressing problems. Open waste burning, vehicle emissions, and cross-border haze continue to choke cities. Although enforcement against non-compliant brick kilns intensified — with 830 kilns demolished in the past year — overall air quality has not improved. Savar has been declared the country’s first “degraded airshed,” with a phased plan to close down major polluting sources.

Environmental experts say the government has shown progress in forest recovery and action against illegal brick kilns but failed to properly enforce rules on vehicle emissions and industrial waste. Stronger steps are still needed to address river pollution, they added.