1. Environmental Issues of Bangladesh
Dr Mahfuzul Haque

2. Points for Discussion Eco-Profile of Bangladesh
Issues of Concern: water quality; air quality; population growth; poverty and malnutrition; natural disaster; threats to agriculture; pressure on lands; forest depletion; fisheries; industries etc.
Debates over sustainable agriculture, hill agriculture, sustainable energy

3. Eco-Profile of Bangladesh
Bangladesh is a live delta
150 million people confined within 144,000 sq kms
Around 230 rivers and tributaries cris-cross the country like a mesh
40% of land mass less than one meter (3.3 ft) above sea level
3 major rivers carry 2.4 billion tons of silt (1/5th global silt) annually
54 common rivers and 92% of catchment area of these rivers is outside Bangladesh territory
Catchment Areas: Bangladesh: 08%, India: 62%, China: 18%, Nepal:08%, Bhutan: 04%
Water sharing issue is multilateral and not bilateral

4. Eco-Profile of Bangladesh
Haors and Baors in the North, North-East and West
Barind in the West: changes taking place . Ground water level falling due to massive irrigation
Chittagong Hills Tracts in the South-East
Flood plain: 80%, Hilly: 12%, uplifted terrace: 8%

5. Issues of Concern
Coastal areas in the south subject to salinity intrusion and natural disasters: (580 km coast line: St Martins to Satkhira)
Natural disasters like flood, cyclone, tornado, tidal bore, draught and desertification are common features
Bad floods: 1987, 1988, 1998, 2004, 2007
Conical shape in the Bay of Bengal attracts cyclonic storms causing enormous casualties

6. Issues of Concern
Unplanned Population Growth: In a country of 150 million people, 50% population is below 15 years of age. Unemployment, poverty, lack of basic facilities, rural-urban migration causing mushrooming of slums continue
Poverty and Malnutrition: About 48% people are living below poverty line, 20% under extreme poverty and 10% ultra-poor. People suffer from food crisis for 3-4 months in the Monga hit region in the North. Due to poor literacy and life expectancy, high infant and maternal mortality rate, the country is under stress

7. Issues of Concern
Natural Disaster: The floods of 1987 and 1988 were devastating flood inundated two-thirds of Bangladesh for two months and 2007 floods continue to wreck havoc. Besides floods, cyclones, tornadoes, tidal bores, Sidr 2007, Aila 2009 continue to visit us.
Threats to Sustainable Agriculture: Excessive use of agro-chemicals, insecticides and pesticides along with new hybrid crops continue to pose threat to our agriculture. Loss of top soil, soil erosion, salinity intrusion, water logging due to FCD/I are affecting our agriculture.

8. Issues of Concern
Water Quality and Availability: Ground-water mining, arsenic contamination, pollution from agro-chemicals, industrial effluents and municipal wastes are all affecting our waters.
Poor air quality: Dhaka’s air relatively cleaner now due introduction of CNG. Brick kilns continue to pollute air in the vicinity. Government suggested to adopt environment friendly technologies, like hybrid Hoffman kilns, Jig jag kiln and vertical kilns with no success.

9. Issues of Concern
Depletion of Forests: Felling of trees for timber, fuel and fodder reduced our reserved forests by 50% in last 20 years. Salinity intrusion and top-dying affected the Sundarbans. Rubber, acacia replacing the local indigenous trees.
Pressure on Land: Land-use change affecting agricultural lands coupled with landlessness due to river-bank erosion. Common Property Resources (CPR) over-exploited and getting reduced.

10. Issues of Concern
Threat to Fisheries: Effluent discharge, excessive use of agro-chemicals, faulty shrimp fry collection, exotic variety, FCD/I structures and flooding are all threatening the fisheries sector.
Energy Crisis: Crisis for fuel and fodder forcing people to use bio-mass at an alarming rate. Large amount of coal remains untapped. Age-old generation forcing low yield of electricity. No growth expected soon.

11. Issues of Concern
Hazards of Industrialization: Industries, real estate buildings continue to pollute our water bodies, soil and air. Wetlands are being converted for housing and industries at an alarming rate.
Rapid Urbanization: Unplanned urbanization putting its toll on the cities and towns. The capital has become unlivable due to population pressure (10 million+), unabated rural-urban migration, mushrooming of slums, unplanned traffic, less roads in comparison to increasing cars, load shedding, water crisis and gas crisis. The capital may be abandoned if no improvement takes place.

12. Debate over Sustainable Agriculture
1972: Food production was 10 ml MT with 3 ml MT shortage for a population of 75 ml
2008: Food production was 30 ml MT with negligible shortage (2-2.5 ml MT) for a population of 150 ml
Amazingly 10 ml farmers make a silent revolution on a fixed geographical area over 32 years
High Yield Variety (HYV)/ GM crops
HYV versus Indigenous Variety
Use of agro-chemicals versus Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

13. Invasion of agro-
chemicals

14. Available of pheromone trap (IPM)
Picture: Application of pheromone trap

15. Food Production and Annual Import
Crops/Products
Total Demand
Annual Import
Rice
30 ml MT
ml MT
(7% of total demand)
Wheat
3.5 ml MT
1 ml MT
Palm Oil
1.15 ml MT
Sugar
0.85 ml MT
Ref: Prothom Alo, January 2009

16. Sustainable Agriculture
Ground Water versus Surface Water irrigation
In Barind, ground water level fell by 40 feet in last 25 years and apprehended to fall 25 feet in next 10 years due to excessive irrigation
Barind faces creeping desertification, if measures like surface water use, rain water harvest, excavation of canals and proper sharing of cross-boundary water are not taken

17. Debate over Sustainable Hill Agriculture
CHT is 1/10th of Bangladesh in size
High lands in the central part
What agriculture is suitable for the hills
Sedentary Cultivation versus Jhum Cultivation
Use of agro-chemicals
Sustainable Hill Agriculture

18. Debate over Energy Sources of Energy?
Non-Renewable Energy versus Renewable Energy
Non-Renewable: Coal, natural gas, petrol, diesel, biomass
Renewable: Bio-gas, hydro-power, solar, wind power, wave action
Whether clean energy affordable? Which energy is suitable for the country?

19. Further Readings
M. Haque, “Sustainable Management of Environment”, Q I Chowdhury ed., Bangladesh: State of Environment Report 1999, Forum of Environmental Journalists of Bangladesh.

20. Probable Questions
What are the environmental issues and concerns of Bangladesh?
What are the adverse impacts of agro-chemicals on the environment? For a country like Bangladesh, should we go for HYV?
What type of sustainable hill agriculture do you suggest?

21. THANK YOU