242
R. Ramesh . S. Ramachandran
13.3.4
State Initiatives and Legislation
Bangladesh has no legislation specific to coastal area management. Although there is
a coastal environment management plan, currently, this has no legal status. The Department of Environment (DOE) under the newly formed Ministry of Environment and
Forests, is the main government institution responsible for all environmental planning,
management and monitoring, including those relating to the marine sector. Overall
coordination on environmental issues is the responsibility of the DOE. It also works
as the technical arm of the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
The national conservation strategy adopted by Bangladesh in 1987, identified the following ecosystems as important coastal zones, hill forests, the Sunderbans and wetland.
In ~992, a National Environment Policy was adopted along with an environmental action plan. This policy addresses to some extent, issues related to the marine environment. In the monitoring, control and prevention of coastal and marine environmental
problems, the Action Plan envisages the involvement of the Ministry of Environment
and Forests, Ministry of Land, Ministry of Shipping and the Ministry of Defence.
A National Environment Management Action Plan (NEMAP) has also been formulated to address environmental issues in an integrated manner. The plan builds on the
general principles set out in the National Environment Policy. A participatory approach
was adopted in developing it. NEMAP identifies the management of coastal and marine resources as an important issue calling for appropriate action (Sharma 1996).
The national environmental legislation provides guidelines relating to the control
of environmental pollution, conservation of natural resources and the protection of
environmental health. According to a study by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Bangladesh has about 45 laws on different areas that have a
bearing on environmental issues, including those related to coastal and marine environmental resources. However, there are no specific standards and enforcement mechanisms. There is as yet no appropriate and comprehensive legislation for the protection
of the country's marine environment and related ecosystems. The principal legislation
dealing with control and prevention of environmental pollution is the Environmental
Pollution Control Ordinance of 1977- This however, does not deal with the marine environmental pollution or pollution caused by ships.
Laws related directly or indirectly to coastal and marine environmental protection
and"resource development are:
• Territorial Waters and Maritime Zone Act, 1974 and the rules formed under this Act
in 1977, for the management of maritime activities within the territorial waters;
• Environment Pollution Control Ordinance, 1977;
• Marine Fisheries Ordinance, 1983;
• East Bengal Protection and Conservation of Fish Act, 1950;
• Petroleum Act, 1934, to regulate petroleum exploitation in the offshore areas;
• Pesticide Ordinance, 1971 (amende" in 1980 and 1983);
• Water Supply and Sewerage Authority Ordinance, 1963 and the Factories Act, 1965.
Bangladesh is also a part of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES),
R. Ramesh . S. Ramachandran
13.3.4
State Initiatives and Legislation
Bangladesh has no legislation specific to coastal area management. Although there is
a coastal environment management plan, currently, this has no legal status. The Department of Environment (DOE) under the newly formed Ministry of Environment and
Forests, is the main government institution responsible for all environmental planning,
management and monitoring, including those relating to the marine sector. Overall
coordination on environmental issues is the responsibility of the DOE. It also works
as the technical arm of the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
The national conservation strategy adopted by Bangladesh in 1987, identified the following ecosystems as important coastal zones, hill forests, the Sunderbans and wetland.
In ~992, a National Environment Policy was adopted along with an environmental action plan. This policy addresses to some extent, issues related to the marine environment. In the monitoring, control and prevention of coastal and marine environmental
problems, the Action Plan envisages the involvement of the Ministry of Environment
and Forests, Ministry of Land, Ministry of Shipping and the Ministry of Defence.
A National Environment Management Action Plan (NEMAP) has also been formulated to address environmental issues in an integrated manner. The plan builds on the
general principles set out in the National Environment Policy. A participatory approach
was adopted in developing it. NEMAP identifies the management of coastal and marine resources as an important issue calling for appropriate action (Sharma 1996).
The national environmental legislation provides guidelines relating to the control
of environmental pollution, conservation of natural resources and the protection of
environmental health. According to a study by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Bangladesh has about 45 laws on different areas that have a
bearing on environmental issues, including those related to coastal and marine environmental resources. However, there are no specific standards and enforcement mechanisms. There is as yet no appropriate and comprehensive legislation for the protection
of the country's marine environment and related ecosystems. The principal legislation
dealing with control and prevention of environmental pollution is the Environmental
Pollution Control Ordinance of 1977- This however, does not deal with the marine environmental pollution or pollution caused by ships.
Laws related directly or indirectly to coastal and marine environmental protection
and"resource development are:
• Territorial Waters and Maritime Zone Act, 1974 and the rules formed under this Act
in 1977, for the management of maritime activities within the territorial waters;
• Environment Pollution Control Ordinance, 1977;
• Marine Fisheries Ordinance, 1983;
• East Bengal Protection and Conservation of Fish Act, 1950;
• Petroleum Act, 1934, to regulate petroleum exploitation in the offshore areas;
• Pesticide Ordinance, 1971 (amende" in 1980 and 1983);
• Water Supply and Sewerage Authority Ordinance, 1963 and the Factories Act, 1965.
Bangladesh is also a part of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES),