The wetlands that once covered two-thirds of the country’s land area have come down to less than a half, a decline which, environmentalists warn, has threatened agriculture, fisheries, navigation, tourism and livelihoods.
It is also observed that land-grabbing, encroachment into marshlands and earth-filling for ‘reckless development’ are creating an urban space that is not liveable.
Dhaka city and its surroundings lost more than 43,000 acres or 23 per cent of wetland areas between 2010 and 2019, according to study findings compiled by a group of green activists.
Depletion of wetlands in and around the capital continues despite civic movement, court directives and constitutional provision against harming the environment.
The country’s overall area of wetlands is unofficially estimated to have declined to 45.87 per cent of the land area.
However, the Department of Environment (DoE) has not yet carried out any national survey to determine how much of wetlands have been grabbed, its Director of Dhaka Region Ziaul Haque admitted. Some localised surveys are said to have been carried at the directive of the court, he said.
“The number of wetlands has been declining over the years as vested interest groups are very active in grabbing them,” the DoE director said.
Known as liquid assets, wetlands are the most crucial natural resources that help stabilise water supplies, clean polluted waters, protect shorelines, and recharge groundwater aquifers.
Bangladesh, criss-crossed by rivers, had evolved as a unique delta.
“Bangladesh’s geo-natural features are getting altered due to declining wetlands,” Sharif Jamil, General Secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (environment movement), pointed out.
Saying that the riverine transportation system is being severely affected, he added that the country may also see a crisis of drinking water, irrigation and foods should the trend continue.
No development is sustainable by harming nature, environment and surroundings, the High Court concluded in a July 2021 judgement, which directed the authorities to enact a specific law and form a separate ministry to protect and develop wetlands as public trust property.
The court’s observation came as it declared the grabbing and filling up of water bodies, wetlands and farmlands by two companies in Sonargaon, Narayanganj, as illegal.
Dwelling on the Bangladesh Economic Zones Act, 2010, the court stated that if any person or organisation wishes to apply for the establishment of an economic zone, it is mandatory to attach a no-objection letter from the DoE with the application.
About 2.1 million hectares of wetlands have allegedly been lost in the Ganges-Brahmaputra floodplain due to flood control, drainage and irrigation.
The DoE officials claimed that they conducted drives to evict illegal land grabbers as per the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act 1995. They emphasised the role of administration and law enforcement authorities in protecting wetlands.
Chalanbeel, Atrai basin, lower Punarbhaba floodplain, Gopalganj-Khulna beels, Arial Beel, and Surma-Kushiyara floodplain are some important wetlands while manmade wetlands include ponds, dighis and lakes.
In Dhaka, wetlands had decreased to 4.38 per cent from 14.25 per cent in 20 years since 1999 due to unplanned urbanisation, found a study.
“Rampant occupation of wetlands will eventually make Dhaka city unlivable,” Chemistry Professor at Dhaka University Abdus Salam told The Financial Express, adding that illegal and unplanned earth filling is damaging the ecosystem including worsening of air quality in urban atmosphere.
When contacted, Md. Selim Reza, Chief Executive Officer at Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), said they are trying to free the occupied canals and water bodies.
The DNCC has freed two canals recently and identified 29 others to ensure the flow of freshwater. The official mentioned that the city corporation has requested the Bangladesh Army to launch a drone survey to find out the occupied water bodies under its jurisdiction.
According to Article 18A of the Constitution, the state shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to preserve and safeguard the natural resources, bio-diversity, wetlands, forests and wildlife for the present and future citizens.
“The deficits in fulfilling the constitutional obligation to protect, preserve and improve the environment, natural resources for a sustainable future can be attributed to inefficiency, lack of coordination and collusive corruption of a section of officials of institutions and public offices that are mandated to implement the commitments,” said Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of Transparency International, Bangladesh.
He regretted that natural resources like water bodies and wetlands are subjected to indiscriminate grabbing for business and other personal or corporate interest of powerful individuals, often with political links.