Bangladesh marked World Environment Day on Thursday against a backdrop of worsening air pollution, dying rivers, shrinking green spaces and mounting climate threats, underscoring a growing gap between environmental commitments and realities on the ground.
More than five decades after the global environmental movement began with the 1972 Stockholm Conference, experts say Bangladesh no longer faces an awareness problem. It faces an implementation problem.
Despite years of climate strategies, environmental laws and international pledges, the country continues to grapple with some of the region’s most severe environmental challenges.
Dhaka remains among the world's most polluted cities, major rivers are increasingly choked by industrial waste and sewage, while climate-driven disasters are accelerating displacement and threatening livelihoods across coastal regions.
The environmental crisis comes at a critical moment for Bangladesh, one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change despite contributing only a tiny fraction of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Scientists warn that global temperatures have already risen by around 1.2°C above pre-industrial levels, increasing the frequency and intensity of floods, cyclones, heatwaves and erratic weather patterns. Bangladesh is already experiencing many of those impacts.
Air pollution remains one of the country's most immediate environmental threats. Experts cite brick kilns, vehicle emissions, construction dust and industrial pollution as major contributors to deteriorating air quality, particularly in urban centres.
At the same time, rivers such as the Buriganga, Turag and Shitalakkhya continue to suffer from untreated industrial discharge and encroachment, threatening ecosystems and public health.
In coastal districts, rising salinity, river erosion and extreme weather events are reshaping agriculture and forcing thousands of families to migrate to cities each year.
Environmental planners warn that rapid urbanization is compounding the crisis.
Shaikh Muhammad Mehedi Ahsan, vice-president of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners, said an estimated 75% to 80% of urbanization in Bangladesh remains unplanned.
“Without science-based planning and properly designed development projects, Bangladesh cannot build climate-resilient and livable cities,” he said.
The government says it is taking action.
Environment Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo highlighted a plan to plant 250 million trees over the next five years and expand canal excavation projects aimed at restoring ecological balance and strengthening climate resilience.
Authorities also point to afforestation programs, river restoration efforts, renewable energy initiatives and climate adaptation projects.
However, environmental experts argue that enforcement remains the weakest link.
Illegal encroachment, industrial pollution, weak regulatory oversight and fragmented governance continue to undermine environmental protection efforts despite repeated policy commitments.
Climate and environment experts also cautioned against relying solely on international climate financing or carbon credit mechanisms without ensuring environmental integrity and accountability.
Environmental activists say Bangladesh must accelerate its transition away from fossil fuels and provide stronger incentives for renewable energy if it hopes to meet long-term climate goals.
The issue is increasingly becoming political as well. Political parties have begun incorporating environmental promises into their agendas, including commitments to river restoration, renewable energy expansion and climate-resilient infrastructure.
Yet experts say the central challenge remains unchanged: turning promises into measurable action.
As Bangladesh observes another World Environment Day, the country's environmental future may depend less on new pledges and more on whether existing commitments can finally be enforced.
For a nation already on the frontline of climate change, experts warn that environmental protection can no longer be treated as a separate policy issue. It is increasingly becoming a question of economic security, public health and national survival.
