‘We need to focus on nature based solution for sustainable development’

The current environmental situation in Bangladesh is not good. Although we have very good environmental laws, their implementation raises serious concern.  The implementers of those laws are mostly toothless against powerful opponents who opt for carrying out industrialisation without thinking much about the environmental consequences. They need to be geared up properly so that they can do their job. At the same time the level of awareness has to be raised.

We have to remember that Bangladesh is such a vulnerable country in terms of climate change. The level of awareness of climate change needs to be raised here. And the whole country should be made aware of what they can do to tackle this global challenge. Situation at the moment is not good but it can be improved.

Our water bodies are being polluted very badly, the cities are extremely polluted, and the forest area is not being protected.  Lots of trees have been planted is a good thing. But nevertheless the existing forest also needs to be protected. The land, water and marine ecosystems all need to be better protected than they are at the moment.

To tell you the truth, the current situation of protection of the environment is only good on paper. If we can change these, if we can get the implementation to take up both by the authorities who are in charge as well as by the general public who are aware of the issues, then we will be able to bring a change collectively. We then will be able to turn the situation around and by 2030 Bangladesh can be in a much better environmental position. Having new thinking on how to do this is called nature based solutions through which we can carry on our development without harming the environment. But to make it a possibility, we need to plan accordingly.