One Year of Environmental Advising: Promises fade into pollution
Gazi Anowar :
When acclaimed environmental lawyer Syeda Rizwana Hasan assumed office as Environment Adviser in Bangladesh’s interim government on 8 August 2024, hopes were high that she would spearhead efforts to tackle the country’s long-standing ecological challenges.
With numerous national and international accolades to her name, Hasan was widely regarded as the figure who could address pressing issues such as plastic pollution, brick kiln emissions, river contamination, and the restoration of Bangladesh’s delicate natural ecosystems.
However, twelve months into her tenure, air pollution remains severe, rivers continue to suffer, and urban noise levels have reached alarming highs.
Plastic and polythene waste management has seen little improvement. Informal market data indicate a 3-5 per cent increase in single-use plastic consumption over the past year, with enforcement of existing bans patchy and ineffective.
Open dumping in Dhaka and Chattogram continues to clog drainage systems, exacerbating monsoon flooding risks.
Air quality shows no significant progress. Data from 2024-25 ranks Dhaka among the world’s most polluted cities, with average annual PM2.5 levels around 78 µg/m³-more than 15 times the World Health Organization’s recommended limit.
Despite repeated policy commitments, emissions from brick kilns, construction activities, and vehicles remain largely unchecked.
Noise pollution has emerged as a growing crisis. Persistent honking, unregulated loudspeakers, and ongoing construction push daytime noise in parts of Dhaka beyond 85 decibels-well above the legal residential limit of 50-60 decibels.
Medical professionals warn of increasing cases of hearing loss, stress, and sleep disorders linked to this relentless noise.
River and coastal pollution also remain critical concerns. Environmental groups report continued discharge of industrial waste and untreated sewage into the Buriganga, Turag, and Shitalakkhya rivers. Meanwhile, unregulated shipbreaking activities and oil spills threaten marine ecosystems along the coast.
A recent report by policy think tank Change Initiative, titled Dhaka Without Nature? Rethinking Natural Rights Led Urban…, paints a bleak picture of the capital’s ecological decline.
The study warns that rapid urbanisation, loss of green spaces, and degradation of wetlands are driving Dhaka towards a “point of no return” unless urgent, rights-based environmental reforms are enacted.
Restoration efforts for wetlands, riversides, and mangroves have been slow and fragmented.
The Sundarbans, in particular, remains vulnerable to cyclones, salinity intrusion, and resource exploitation. Satellite data reveal continued forest loss in several regions during 2024.
Environmental advocates say the gap between expectations and results is stark. “Appointing a high-profile environmentalist was symbolic, but the tangible outcomes have been lacking,” said one researcher based in Dhaka. “The plastic waste, the polluted air, and the noise pollution are as bad-if not worse-than before.”
Officials cite budget constraints, bureaucratic delays, and competing priorities as obstacles, but critics argue that stronger leadership and enforcement could have achieved visible improvements within a year.
Experts highlight several urgent priorities for Bangladesh’s environment:
” Air Quality Management: Enforce stricter controls on brick kilns, vehicle emissions, and construction dust; invest in cleaner technologies.
” Plastic and Waste Reduction: Implement the single-use plastic ban rigorously, promote alternatives, and expand recycling infrastructure.
” River and Coastal Restoration: Halt industrial effluent dumping, rehabilitate wetlands, and strengthen mangrove protection in the Sundarbans.
” Noise Pollution Control: Enforce noise limits, redesign traffic flow, and penalise violations.
” Urban Green Space Preservation: Protect parks, increase tree planting, and integrate nature into urban planning.
Professor M. Shahidul Islam, Chair of Geography and Environment at the University of Dhaka, emphasised that Bangladesh’s environmental crisis extends beyond pollution to public health, climate resilience, and social justice. “Bold, visible action-not just policy rhetoric-is needed.
Improved air quality and waste management offer the quickest opportunities for progress, provided enforcement is taken seriously,” he said.
Dr Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, Environmental Science Professor at Stamford University Bangladesh, described noise pollution as a “silent killer.” “The laws exist, but implementation is almost non-existent. Without enforcement, noise levels will continue to rise, harming productivity and mental well-being,” he warned.
He added that Dhaka’s per capita green space is among the lowest worldwide. “If wetlands and trees are lost to unchecked urban growth, the city’s ecological lifeline will be severed.”
As the interim government marks its first year, the environment portfolio remains a stark reminder of unfulfilled promises. Many view the adviser’s tenure so far as “ungreen,” with Bangladesh’s air, water, and natural heritage continuing to deteriorate.