The Sundarbans, Bangladesh’s emerald jewel and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, gained a vital layer of protection as the government banned new industrial projects within a 10-kilometer Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) surrounding the mangrove forest.
Announced Monday via a gazette notification from the Environment Ministry’s Environment-3 Wing, the decision, rooted in the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act of 1995, marks a bold stride toward safeguarding the world’s largest mangrove ecosystem from industrial encroachment.
The ban, finalised at the 16th meeting of the National Environment and Climate Change Committee’s Executive Committee on April 21, chaired by Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan, prohibits new factories or developments in the ECA while allowing sustainable activities like pollution control and habitat conservation.
The forest, home to Royal Bengal tigers and a bulwark against climate-driven storms, faces threats from pollution and deforestation.
The committee revisited 2017 and 2021 environmental rulings, ordering independent experts to assess the impact of existing industries within the 10-km zone.
“We’ll decide their fate—continuation or closure—based on these findings and court mandates,” a ministry press release stated, referencing a 2017 High Court order sparked by a writ from Sheikh Faridul Islam of Save the Sundarbans Foundation.
The court, led by Justices Moinul Islam Chowdhury and JBM Hassan, had demanded a list of industries in the zone and barred new approvals, a directive now cemented by the ban.
Beyond the Sundarbans, the meeting tackled broader environmental challenges. Amendments to the Climate Change Trust Rules will enable joint projects by government, private firms, and NGOs, fostering climate resilience.
Noise pollution, a growing urban scourge, prompted plans for a multi-ministry action plan. The committee also proposed boosting the Environment Ministry’s enforcement budget and introducing risk allowances for Forest Department staff, recognizing their frontline role in protecting fragile ecosystems.