Green campaigners have appeared critical to the Department of Environment’s law enforcement against different types of pollution in the last seven months.
Recently, they said the DoE’s routine drives against the use of single-use plastics, sound pollution and other hazards were less than enough and only ‘show-off’.
A DoE press note stated that the department conducted 496 mobile court drives against banned polythene, filed 929 cases, and collected Tk 6,879,100 in fines between November 3, 2024, and July 24 this year.
During the period, a total of 251.54 kg of banned polythene was seized while 16 polythene factories were sealed and disconnected from utility services, according to DoE.
Fardous Ahmed Uzzal, general secretary of Paribesh O Jalabayu Paribartan Andolan, a platform for environmental conservation and climate change movement, told New Age, ‘The DoE’s inadequate drives failed to motivate and mobilise people against environmental pollution.’
He questioned the ineffective measures against the polythene factories. ‘Has the authorities succeeded in shutting the import of raw materials and production of single-use polythene completely?’
Under the Noise Pollution (Control) Rules, 2006, the DoE conducted five mobile court drives in Dhaka, Jashore, Rajbari, and Khulna between January 2 and July 24.
During the drives, Twenty-seven hydraulic horns were confiscated, 19 cases were filed, imposing fines amounting to Tk26,500, according to DoE.
Questioning the negligence in controlling import and marketing of the prohibited hydraulic horns, Fardous termed the outcomes very insignificant.
He said, ‘Even if the department had conducted a similar number of drives at the busiest streets in Dhaka city, the number of complaints would have been higher.’
Recently, the DoE claimed that it took ‘strong’ actions against environmental pollution and conducted a total of 1,262 mobile court drives across the country from 2 January to 24 July 2025.
The drives targeted air, noise, water, and solid waste pollution, illegal use of banned polythene, hazardous lead and battery recycling, wetland encroachment, unauthorised brick kilns, and tire pyrolysis factories.
Green activist Amirul Rajiv, also leader of the Bangladesh Tree Protection Movement, said, ‘The actions taken regarding polythene and air pollution by the current government are mostly for show—just to get media coverage. Look around, there’s no visible change.’
Rajiv complained that the authorities concerned did not encourage technological innovation and sustainable solutions.
‘Have we seen any special message or punishment directed at the producers primarily responsible for plastic pollution? We won't!’ he said, questioning the lack of community engagement and proper research or feasibility study before enforcing the environmental laws.
During January 2-July 24, Tk257,595,800 was collected in fines following the filing of 3,063 cases. A total of 484 illegal brick kiln chimneys were demolished, leading to complete shutdowns, while 216 more were issued strict closure directives, according to DoE.
Responding to the green campaigners, DoE’s additional director general Sohrab Ali said, ‘We are enforcing the environmental laws with a limited manpower.’
Sohrab assured that drives against polluters would be continued.
*Photos courtesy of Department of Environment, Bangladesh.
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