Environment_and_National_Security_of_Bangladesh

ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION IN AND AROUND BANGLADESH AND THEIR EFFECTS ON OUR NATIONAL SECURITY INTRODUCTION 1. Environmental degradation is among the most critical global issues in front of us today. The issue is well pondered by the people all over the world. Activities responsible for such degradation have been taking place in and around Bangladesh for decades. But this core issue was never addressed with due importance by the authority. Due to the political unrest, civil strife, insurgency and above all poverty in Bangladesh and around, concerned authorities were never in a position to handle the matter with required effort. It was always kept aside as “to be dealt later”. However, the material damages, loss of lives and social dislocations from frequent natural disasters have tossed the issue onto the centre stage of the government repeatedly. Today, its link with domestic and regional security is well understood by the authority. Indeed, this understanding developed only when security issue like mass displacement of population leading to stealing, robbery, clashes between groups etc. appeared to be directly or indirectly connected with the environmental degradation. 2. Bangladesh is subjected to environmental degradation on the national, regional and global levels. At the national level, in one hand, poverty and decreasing land-man ratio are causing the environment to degrade at a faster rate. On the other hand, natural disasters like floods, cyclones, tornadoes, storm surges etc. are directly contributing to the environmental degradation. At the regional level, the country is encountering environmental degradation due to diversion of river flow and deforestation at the Himalaya. Finally, at the global level, the country is facing environmental degradation for activities related to global warming and sea level rise. 3. One important aspect is that the region around Bangladesh is significantly influenced by the Himalayan mountain ranges. Rivers flowing from these mountain ranges together with the weather pattern have created a unified ecosystem, widely known as Himalayan Ecosystem, in the south-east Asia. The agro based economy and even the industrial activities of Bangladesh are widely dependent on this ecosystem, especially on the river network. The natural equilibrium of the country had been maintained by this system for centuries. But today, different indicators clearly reveal that there is a rupture in the system due to human activities in and around Bangladesh. Through this study an endeavor is made to recommend some measures to stop environmental degradation in and around Bangladesh. . ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION ACTIVITIES WITHIN BANGLADESH Agro-Chemical Pollution 4. Bangladesh is an agrarian based less developed country of the world. But due to low per capita arable land its food deficiency is about 20 million tones every year. To produce more food, Bangladesh has been applying an increasing quantity of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The use of chemical fertilizers has increased about seven folds from 1977/78 to 1997/98 while application of pesticides has increased five folds from 1989 to 1998[i]. This results in water pollution through rain, irrigation channel and by ground water aquifer which suck water from the polluted soil. Industrial Pollution 5. The industrial pollution is another major source of environmental degradation in Bangladesh. The industrial growth started here in the 1980s. At present, the country has a considerable number of small industries and this sector accounts for about 28.7% of GDP and 25% of total employment.[ii] Unfortunately none of these industries has waste treatment plant and most of these are situated by the banks of the rivers. Therefore, they dispose their wastes in the water bodies and release smoke in the air. A table showing different pollutants of various sectors and their Pollution Load to Land, Air and Water is given below.[iii] |Type of Industry |Toxic Chemical to Land (in %)|Toxic Chemical to Air (in %) |Toxic chemical to Water (in | | | | |%) | |Textiles |14.02 |21.72 | 8.20 | |Non-ferrous Metal |12.01 | 6.52 | 6.10 | |Iron and Steel |12.09 | 3.04 |53.55 | |Chemicals | 6.25 | 2.59 | 8.09 | |Tanneries |15.64 | 8.40 | 1.56 | |Fertilizers/Pesticides |10.03 |10.66 | 2.09 | |Miscellaneous |29.96 |47.07 |20.41 | Table 1 : Pollution Load by Selected Sectors and Pollutants Deforestation 6. According to environmental science, 25% of a country’s land area should be covered with forest for a balanced ecosystem. Bangladesh has only 6% of its land as forest. Unfortunately, during the last 20 years 50% of the country’s forests have been destroyed. Indiscriminate felling of trees in Dhaka, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Rangpur and Dinajpur area resulted such depletion of the forests. Again, about 75% of the population in Chittagong Hill Track practices Jhum Cultivation and about 1,000,000 hectare of forest is completely denuded for Jhum Cultivation[iv]. The chart below represents the trend of deforestation in Bangladesh[v]. [pic] Figure 1 : Trend of Deforestation in Bangladesh Over Extraction of Ground Water for Irrigation 7. Over extraction of ground water is another contributor to the environmental degradation in Bangladesh. Due to limited availability of surface water in the north-west region, ground water is used extensively for irrigation through Shallow Tube Wells (STW) and Deep Tube Wells (DTW). The chart given below shows the growth of using STW and DTW within the period of 1972-2000.[vi] [pic] Figure 2 : Growth of Using STW and DTW in Bangladesh 8. The consequences of such rapid growth are now apparent. In the recent past, tube-wells in the north-west region of the country were reported to be incapable of pumping water due to the increased seasonal decline of ground water level. Moreover, reduction of the ground water level has resulted in a number of ecological effects like: a. Desertification. The roots of the natural vegetation in these areas were adapted to particular depth for ground water. But now, vegetations are unable to adapt to the new level. The result is the top dying of the natural vegetations i.e. desertification. b. Salinity in the Irrigated Areas. Reduction of ground water allows the saline water to intrude inland in the coastal areas. Thereby, salinity of the soil increases. But ground water reduction alone does not cause soil salinity. Reduction of surface water also contributes to it. c. Degradation of Biodiversity. Due to reduced water flow and salinity, aquatic habitats and various species of plants and trees in the mangrove forest of Bangladesh are under the threat of extinction.[vii] Serious degradation of Biodiversity has been recognized in the Sundarban, a World Heritage Site, by the UNESCO due to lack of sweet water. Urbanization 17. Recently, unplanned human settlement is also causing environmental degradation in Bangladesh. About 24% settlement of the country are in urban areas while remaining 76% are in rural areas[viii]. But all economic and commercial activities are centered in urban areas. Due to increasing urban-rural disparity rural people are migrating to urban centers for subsistence and hope of a better life. The graph below shows the trend of the level of urbanization in Bangladesh[ix]. [pic] Figure 3 : Trend of Urbanization in Bangladesh 18. Unplanned urban growth and expansion are creating various environmental problems. Due to increased pressure of urban requirements, forest resources and fisheries are being over exploited. Surface soils in arable lands are being used for brick fields and making the fertile top soil lost from the realm. Moreover, more and more agricultural lands are converted to dwelling places or are being taken up for industrializations. Such problems are augmented by increasing waste disposals. Unplanned Dams and Barrages 19. Bangladesh is located on the extensive floodplains of the Ganges and the Brahmaputra. Therefore, flooding is a natural part for the lives of her inhabitants. To control flood, numbers of dams, barrages and reservoirs are constructed all over the country. But this attempt to obstruct the river flow widely known as Cordoning Approach toward rivers has proved to be losing propositions and even devastating steps in some cases. In one hand it increases flood intensity and causes increased sufferings for the people outside the cordon. On the other hand it deprives the people inside cordons from the benefits of regular inundation. These include soil revitalization, recharge of surface water bodies, fisheries, navigation, irrigation, moisture retention, temperature balancing, environmental cleansing etc. Emissions of Green House Gases 21. The amount of Green House Gases (GHG) contributed by Bangladesh is very less in comparison to many other countries of the world. Among the South Asian States its contribution is only 1.61% compared to 90.72% by India. Again, while South Asia`s contribution to the global total GHG is 4.7%, Bangladesh contributes there 0.4% only.[x] Unfortunately, although Bangladesh's contribution to greenhouse effect is very insignificant but the country is going to be the worst victim of such environmental degradation. An increase of earth`s temperature by 1.50 C to 4.50 C is expected by 2030[xi]. Warming of this magnitude would cause rise of sea level 40 to 120 cm, whereas 100 cm rise in sea level would inundate 17% of the countries land area, i.e. over 25,000 km2. [pic] Figure 4 : Loss of Land due to Sea Level Rise (1m and 3m).[xii] Maritime Pollution 24. Bangladesh, mainly for being under developed state, enjoys a relatively pure and unpolluted status of the marine environment. However, the industrial, agrochemical and all other wastes disposed off in the water bodies ultimately reach the ocean through numerous rivers and their tributaries. This destroys the balance of the marine environment and depletes the fish production remarkably. Another very disheartening fact is that due to non-availability of patrolling facilities in the sea, ships from many industrialized countries dump toxic waste in the Bay of Bengal and adjacent Indian Ocean.[xiii]Such activities are degrading the marine environment in the region seriously. ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION ACTIVITIES AROUND BANGLADESH Diversion of River Water 25. Bangladesh shares a common border with India in the west, north and east and with Myanmar in the south-east. These borders cut across 54 rivers which discharge water through Bangladesh into the Bay of Bengal. Indian barrages and their related canals, reservoirs and irrigation schemes affect these trans-boundary river systems profoundly. In 1976 India put the Farrakka barrage into operation which more or less destroyed the Ganges-Brahmaputra basin. Such condition has led a vast area along the Padma River as non-arable dry land for most of the time in a year. Even more worrying event is that, since 2002 India is implementing its “River Linking Project”. The primary aim of the project is to divert waters from the north-east of the country to its drought-prone west and south.[xiv] The project will ultimately reduce flow of the rivers in Bangladesh tremendously. Deforestation at the Himalaya 27. Deforestation in the Himalaya by India and Nepal is a major environmental degradation activity around Bangladesh. Increased demand for firewood, extensive tree trimming to feed livestock, land clearing for farming and construction of roads etc. have increased the rate of deforestation. There is a direct link between forest removal in the Himalaya and flooding in the lowlands of the Ganges and the Brahmaputra river systems. Huge amount of sediment due to deforestation is causing increased flood-related sufferings in the lower riparian countries. For Bangladesh, increased frequency and magnitude of floods are largely responsible for making the development efforts unsustainable. Moreover, tremendous climatic changes and devastating consequences of global warming for deforestation at the Himalaya are recognized by all today. CAUSES OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION ACTIVITIES Population Size and Growth 29. Large population and its rapid growth is a root cause of all the environmental degradation activities in Bangladesh. At present the density of population is more than 1,000 persons per km2 which is one of the highest in the world. If the population continues to grow at the present rate, it will double in another 30 years. Under such condition, the national production needs to grow by at least 2.4% per annum only to keep the per capita income at a constant level[xv]. This complicated situation has resulted in multiple pressures on all natural resources like fresh water, soil, forest, clean air, ocean etc. Their qualities have been degraded due to over exploitation for meeting the requirement of increased population. Poverty 30. Bangladesh is enlisted in the United Nation's categorized 'Least Developed Countries'. According to the report of 2008 by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, with an average annual per capita income of $559 and GDP growth of 6.21%, about 40% of the people live below the poverty line. Under such poor economical condition the country needs foreign exchange to meet expenditure on public goods and for international financial obligations like debt servicing, interest payment etc. These requirements push the country to export raw materials. Moreover, the country has to sell these items at low price because of the competition in the world market and due to the unfinished state of the items. Such situation results into an accelerated claim on limited natural resources and ultimately leads to environmental degradation. Poverty also curbs government`s efforts like reforestation, raising public awareness and other measures to mitigate environmental degradation. Conflict between Demand and Availability of Fresh Water 31. The conflict between demand and availability of fresh water is another cause for environmental degradation activities. Fresh water resource of the country consists of rainwater, surface water and ground water. The average annual surface water inflow into the country is 1,080 km3. Only a little more than 12% of the water entering Bangladesh can be used for agriculture and virtually all the rest flows to the sea[xvi]. But this availability of rainwater is limited in the monsoon period. During dry season to meet the requirements extra water supplies are needed for agricultural, domestic and industrial purposes. Therefore, a conflict between the demands and the availability of the fresh water exists in Bangladesh which ultimately causes over extraction of ground water. Feeble Law and Order 32. Feeble Law and Order in the country is a major cause for the continuation of environmental degradation activities in Bangladesh. Due to insufficiency of the Law and Order agencies, over-exploitation of forests and illegal encroachment by the local people are the immediate reasons for the fast depletion of woodlands in Bangladesh. Again, despite having Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995, Environment Conservation Rules, 1997 and many other laws related to environment, industries are not paying enough attention to dispose-off their waste in appropriate manner. Maritime pollution by the industrialized countries is also continuing due to non-availability of policing in our Exclusive Economic Zone. Pattern of Energy Consumption 34. Energy consumption pattern in Bangladesh is characterized by heavy dependence on traditional biomass fuel which accounts for 73.1% of the total energy. At the moment, even in the industrial sector 70% of the energy used is biomass. In the rural area biomass like crop residues, wood and animal dung contribute 65.9%, 12.4% and 21.7% respectively[xvii]. Such a heavy dependency on the biomass results huge contribution of CO2 in the atmosphere. It also causes reduction of nutrient supply to the soil, since this biomass provides the basic supply of soil nutrition. Therefore, pattern of energy consumption in the country largely causes degradation of the soil and the air. Imbalanced Consumption and Reproduction of Forest 35. At present consumption of forest in and around Bangladesh is much greater than reproduction. Woods from the forest are used mainly as domestic energy and as raw material for the industries like paper, match, pulp, etc. Although various programs of afforestation are undertaken by different governmental as well as by non-governmental organizations, but the widening gaps between demands and supply are ruining all these attempts IMPACTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION ON OUR SOCIAL LIFE AND NATIONAL SECURITY Linkage between Environment and Security 36. Traditionally, meaning of national security is closely tied with the military capability of a state. But over the years concept of national security has been redefined in terms of human`s basic needs. Denial of which to the people would create unrest in the society and emerge as a threat to the legitimacy of the political system. Many researchers envisage national security as the protection against events that threaten to degrade the quality of life. These threats include inability to meet basic needs, environmental deterioration and natural disasters[xviii]. All these attempts at redefining national security coveys one message that state centric security and its military apparatus can no longer guarantee national security. Food, health, economy and natural resources are also important factors where environment plays vital role. The environmental degradation can cause scarcity of supply to all those needs, create unrest in the society and thereby emerge as threat to the national security. The diagram given below portrays that due to environmental degradation economy of a nation may decline. This declined economy is likely to destabilize the political situation of the country and may lead to security problem. [xix] Major effects for environmental degradation which may lead to inter/intra-state conflict are discussed subsequently. Figure 7 : Environment and Security Chain Decrease in Agricultural Production 37. Agriculture is still the backbone of the country's economy. Contribution of agriculture to the economy was about 32.4% of the GDP in 1987 but reduced to 18.9% in 2007[xx]. The performance trend of agriculture seems to be disappointing with a continuous decline in the growth rates leading to poor economy. Under such poor economic condition, for the survival, people start looking for legal or illegal opportunities. As a matter of fact, at present, a large number of unemployed people in Bangladesh are engaged with illegal activities. Misuse of government power, stealing, robbery, abduction etc. are not uncommon in any part of the country now a day. Such consequences can surely tear the functional fabric of legitimized, accepted and authoritative government. Decrease in Industrial Production 39. Most of the industries in the country are agro-based. Hence, any disturbance in the agricultural production hampers industrial production directly. Practically environmental degradation affects the industrial production from multiple directions. For example, while overuse of forests causes the wood based industries to face raw material scarcity, the case of reduced water flow and consequent salinity leads the forests to regenerate at a slow pace. Reduced water flow and flood also disrupt transportation and communications which are essential for distribution of industrial products. Decrease in industrial productions affects the overall economy of the country in a great deal. Under such situation, illegal ways and means of business take over the normal system of the commercial activities. Government may even loss the control over the markets. In absence of government control illegal activities like avoiding tax, smuggling, stealing etc. are likely to increase in the society. Thereby, decrease in industrial production remains as a potential threat to the national security. Effects on Human Health 41. Negative impact on human health due to environmental degradation can not be over emphasized. We know, equitable health is a pre-requisite for national progress. Health permits human choice, freedom and development which contribute a lot to the smooth functioning of the state. Effects on human health can cause devastating impact on economy of the country indirectly. It can reduce the productivity in every sector and create an imbalance between demand and supply. The result is price hike of food and other essential commodities, increased unemployment, migration of people at a mass scale to the urban areas, increase of slums etc. All these would give rise to increased conflicts and clashes among the local people. Therefore, ill effects on human health pose significant threat to the national security. Population Displacement/Migration 41. Migration of people from the disaster prone or less opportune areas to other areas is one of the major social impacts of environmental degradation. Many places in Bangladesh, land which is the main source of sustenance can no longer support the population. In addition to this, natural hazards like flood, drought, cyclone, river bank erosion etc. push the landless rural poor to the urban centers. These people ultimately form the environment refugees. Population displacement/migration has multidimensional effects on the national security. In Bangladesh, migration can cause social divides and ethnic divides basing on culture, status or beliefs. a. Ethnic Divides. The ethnic problem in Bangladesh is localized in the CHT between the tribal Chakmas and the Bengalis. For decades, the tribal people had enjoyed an exclusive treatment and lived with their separate identity duly protected. However, due to economic decline and scarcity of resources in low lying areas, the government changed the policy and allowed non-tribal people to the CHT. This caused decreased land-man ratio and increased competition for the local resources. To revive their right, the tribal people started insurgency in the CHT. Moreover, disturbance in the CHT allowed India to interfere in the internal affairs of the country. Thereby, it also emerged as a trans-boundary security problem between India and Bangladesh. b. Social Divides. One bad effect of population migration is that resources become concentrated in one particular group in urban area. Therefore, one group remains below the poverty line and another group gets easy access to economic resources. A movement or disorder in national security based on class interest is not absolutely uncommon in the history. The 'Tebhaga Movement' in the late 1940's, which demanded a better deal for the sharecroppers, is the most well known example of class-based action. As such, imbalanced distribution of resources due to population migration is a threat for national security. Interconnections of Problems 45. The discussion above reveals that ecological changes due to environmental degradation can cause declined economy, destabilized political system and lead to conflicts. However, the ecological changes alone do not pose threat to the national security or lead directly to conflict with neighboring country. Rather, a series of interrelated problems like mass migration of population, struggle for natural resources, social or ethnic divisions with varying beliefs etc., if combined together, may lead to violent conflict. The diagram below shows relations and interconnections amongst various problems arising from environmental degradation[xxi]. Figure 9 : Relations between Environmental Degradation and National Security 46. However, we must remember too that population migration does not always lead to undesirable results. Depending on the economic context it can ease labor shortages in the receiving country too. For example, population migration to Malaysia helped the country to meet her labor requirement. Countries like Canada, Thailand and Malawi show astonishing capacity to absorb migrants without conflict which has contributed considerably to the economy of those countries. MEASURES TO STOP ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION Unilateral Actions 47. In order to solve the problem of environmental degradation the fundamental task would be to take actions unilaterally. For such actions, initiative by the government for a well planned environmental policy would be the prime requirement. Country`s major plans, both short term and long term, must include all those unilateral actions. However, spontaneous participation of general people cannot be over emphasized either. Some of the unilateral actions which would help to stop environmental degradation are discussed subsequently. 48. Population Control. It is widely recognized that over population is the root cause for most of the major problems in Bangladesh. So, the first and foremost requirement to solve the problem of environmental degradation within the country is population control. In reality, reduction of the total population from present state is almost impossible. However, a reduced population growth rate can provide the government an opportunity to pay little more effort to environmental issues. This would also reduce the pressure on land, water, forest, atmosphere and all other natural resources. 49. Poverty Alleviation. Poverty alleviation is another prime requirement to stop the environmental degradation. To attain that a self reliant economy is needed which would consider not only the fulfillment of the present need but also the need for the future generations. The first step for such goal would be development of human resources through population control, employment generation, improved health and hygiene facilities and so on. Next step would be to increase agricultural production which would include not only crop agriculture but also fisheries, forestry, poultry, livestock, etc. Adoption of a sustainable development strategy is compulsory for this step. This strategy would include evaluation of the irrigation projects, selection of crops suitable to soil, crop rotation, diversification etc. It should also incorporate proper use of fertilizer and manure, rational and efficient use of pesticides, selection of improved seeds, rationale utilization of water and so on. All these steps would definitely help to alleviate the poverty which in turn would reduce accelerated claim on limited natural resources. 51. Protection of Forest and Reforestation Programs. Protection of forest and reforestation programs can be undertaken unilaterally to prevent environmental degradation. For this, the first and foremost step would be to provide the population with alternate energy like solar energy, natural gas, windmill or hydropower. Next step that can be taken is to create massive awareness among the people to participate in country wide afforestation programs. 52. Multi-Directional Approach for Fresh Water. Certain steps can be taken to check industrial and agro-chemical water pollution. Provisions can be made and strictly maintained regarding installation of waste treatment plant in the industries, proper use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers and dumping of urban wastes. However, since the sources of rivers are not within the control of the country, unilateral actions are not sufficient to deal the matter effectively. Regional close co-ordinations and co-operations are required. Collection of rainwater for subsequent use can be an effective method to solve water scarcity. 53. Use of Local Resources/Means. Situations in the environmentally degraded areas are not doomed to despair. On the contrary, in this very region, the people manage to cope most creatively with their harsh and unpredictable environment. They are outstanding for most appropriate technological and institutional innovations which depend minimally on costly and external inputs. Moreover, a consensus has emerged on the importance of indigenous and traditional knowledge and practices. Therefore, use of local resources/means can be effective to deal with the problems related to environmental degradation. 54. Other Unilateral Actions. In order to address the critical needs and important issues related to the environment and natural resources, short, medium and long term approaches would be needed. In the short term a number of initiatives could be undertaken by the government in concert with the donor countries and agencies. Aim should be to reduce further environmental degradation and to develop plan for environment management. A medium and long term objective could be to implement various plans made on environment like the National Water Plan, Coastal Zone Management Plan or Action Plan for Flood Control etc. Institutional linkages should also be strengthened so that one can be benefited by the other's experience, information and expertise. A strong and effective environment policy is an essential for the country which shall ensure strict implementation of the legal provisions. Defaulters should be punished through legal frame work and better management system of any organization should be encouraged through incentives. Finally, public awareness is a must for successful implementation of plans and policies. This can be created through environmental education and/or through various conservation campaigns like tree plantations, proper use of water, proper use of energy and so on. Press, media, NGOs, etc. can play a very effective role in this regard. The fact which must be highlighted is that the survival of the future generation depends on the proper use and conservation of the natural resources today. Regional Actions 55. We already know that environmental degradation does not remain confined within a country rather affect the neighbouring countries also. Therefore, regional efforts and coordinated actions are necessary to deal with the matters. Regional actions which merit due importance to stop environmental degradation are discussed subsequently. 56. Water Issue. Control of desertification in the north-west and salinity in the south-west areas of the country require sufficient flow of surface water in the Ganges round the year. Since the problem involves two countries and the source of the problem is not within Bangladesh, solution of the water issue requires bilateral or regional efforts. A bilateral approach, however, can be taken only as a short term solution. For long term solution a regional approach is required because of the regional influences by the Himalayan river system. 57. Deforestation at the Himalaya. Control of siltation and flood in Bangladesh requires a permanent cessation of deforestation at the Himalaya. Reforestation in the entire river basin areas would supplement the effort effectively. Cessation of diversion of water is also a requirement to maintain sufficient flow in the Ganges to push the silts downstream. This will ultimately minimize the frequency and intensity of flood in Bangladesh. This would also decrease the rate of the river bank erosion in the country. One effective measure to reduce deforestation could be exploitation of Nepal`s hydropower as an alternative energy. 58. Other Regional Efforts. To achieve the above mentioned objectives through regional efforts the pre-requisite would be Environmental Diplomacy. Such diplomacy may be initiated by Bangladesh to create awareness about the regional ecosystem. A forum like SAARC can be an appropriate organization to initiate and accomplish such step. An international convention could solve the problem regarding common water issue in the region. The mobilization of multilateral arrangements other than the SAARC is also necessary. For this, establishment of technical committees for joint programs of research, training, investigation, monitoring, basin planning etc. can be undertaken. The mobilization of the UN and its related agencies like the UNEP, UNDP, FAO etc. could also be helpful in achieving afforestation programs in the region including the Himalaya. CONCLUSIONS 59. Environmental degradation in terms of Air Pollution, Water Pollution, Land Degradation and Deforestation due to human activities is a global phenomenon. Such activities are going on in and around Bangladesh with a trend of increasing day by day. They have devastating consequences on the country`s ecosystem, economy and above all very survival of the people. Such situations may lead to mass migration of population, struggling for resources, smuggling, stealing and many other undesirable activities. All these activities pose threat to national security by disrupting the smooth function of social and political system. But today, it is well understood that cessation of environmental degradation is a pre-requisite for sustainable development strategy of the country. 60. Degradation of environmental is done through over use of the natural resources or through indiscriminate and uncoordinated economic activities. Industrial Pollution, Agro-Chemical Pollution, Over Extraction of Ground Water, Deforestation, Unplanned Dams and Barrages, Urbanization, Emissions of GHG, Shrimp Culture and Maritime Pollution are the major environmental degradation activities in and around Bangladesh. These activities, one hand, provide sustenance to the people through supporting the economy. On the other hand they cause enormous problems in the social life which includes scarcity of natural resources, health hazards, reduction of agricultural production, reduction of industrial production, decline of overall economy etc. Moreover, as a lower riparian country, Bangladesh is affected by environmental degradation activities by the upper riparian countries also. 61. While identifying the causes of the environmental degradation activities, it was found that large population of the country is the main cause for the continuation of environmental degradation activities. To meet the requirements of this huge population limited natural resources i.e. land, forest, water etc. are over exploited. Poverty is another very pertinent issue that augments environmental degradation. Often indiscriminant steps are taken in the economic sectors to overcome the poverty which further degrades the environment and ultimately results in increased level of poverty. Largely dependency on bio-mass fuel, imbalanced consumption and reproduction of forest etc. are other causes for environmental degradation. Feeble Law and Order of the country is also responsible for continuation of environmental degradation. Because it gives the way to the defaulters to get away while violating the environmental rules and regulations. 62. Ultimate results of all those environmental degradation activities are numbers of social and national problems for Bangladesh. Water pollution is causing harmful effects to human health as well as to the aquatic resources. It is also causing water scarcity and leading to over exploitation of ground water. Again, water scarcity due to diversion of water by India is causing difficulty in agricultural sector, increasing salinity of the soil and devastating change in biodiversity. Deforestations in and around the country are causing siltation in the riverbed, increased intensity of flood, riverbank erosion and atmospheric pollution. All these effects of the degraded environment result in decreasing agricultural and industrial production leading to rise in prices of food and other essential commodities. Therefore, they have direct impact on overall economy of the country. Declined economy increases unemployment which leads to undesirable activities like stealing, robbery, smuggling etc. They also result in migration of people from one place to another. This population migration has all the potentialities to cause conflicts and clashes among the local people for anti-social activities and unhealthy struggle for resource control. Such situation is a direct threat to the internal security of the country. Similarly, trans-boundary migrations in search of better life can result in hostilities and conflicts between the migrated people and the local people. Therefore, these could instigate inter-state conflict also. 63. Considering the harmful impact on the social life and national security, Bangladesh needs to address the environmental issues through the involvement of unilateral, bilateral, regional and global efforts. Unilateral actions like population control, poverty alleviation, reformulation of policy regarding use of land, protection of existing forest and reforestation programs can be effective measures to reduce the degradation of the environment. Deforestation problems at the Himalaya should be solved through bilateral and regional efforts. It is found through analysis that water crisis is a severe issue for Bangladesh. Any effort to solve the problem is greatly constrained by India's principled position of a bilateral rather than a regional or a multilateral approach. Since the amount of water which flows in Bangladesh is absolutely within the control of India, it gives India leverage over Bangladesh. So it is imperative for Bangladesh to live with the situation and get her share through best possible diplomatic means rather than annoying India. RECOMMENDATIONS 64. After detailed analysis it is found that Bangladesh needs very good institutional framework to formulate, co-ordinate and execute national environmental policy to meet the challenges of environmental degradation. This study suggests following policy recommendations to address the problems mentioned above: a. Participation of Local People in Decision Making. The local Governments or Local Organizations might be made more effective to participate in decision making that are relevant to local circumstances. Suitable measures may be formulated by them to stop activities related to environmental degradation. However, government may provide supportive measures. b. Preservation of Forests. Responsibility for preservation of the existing forests may be given to the private companies. However, a supervisory government team would be needed for close monitoring. c. Incentives and Punishments. Government may offer incentives like leverage on Tax reduction to the industries with waste treatment plant. Government may even provide loan for installing such plant. At the same time, high tax may be imposed to the industries without waste treatment plant. d. Diplomatic Efforts. Diplomatic efforts may be enhanced at the international forums to obtain adequate technical assistance. Technical assistance for utilizing Windmill or Solar Energy could solve many problems related to environmental degradation. Diplomatic effort may also be utilized to stop deforestation at the Himalaya and the River Linking Project by India. e. Public Awareness Campaign. Intensive programs like Tree Plantations, Seminars, Symposiums etc. may be undertaken to create environmental awareness. National Education Curriculum should include environmental education at school and college. Medias like Newspaper, TV, Cinema etc. could be used for developing public awareness. Dhaka M NEYAMUL KABIR Wing Commander December 2009 (Total Words : 5,926) Distribution: Commandant Defence Services Command and Staff College Mirpur Cantonment Mirpur Annexes : A. Conflict in the Senegal River Valley in 1989. B. Crisis in Philippines. C. Think Global, Act Local : The Tale of Sona Mollar Dangi. D. Policy Responses of Bangladesh to Environmental Degradation. E. Major International Environmental Treaties Signed/Ratified by Bangladesh. End Note: ----------------------- [i] United Nation Environmental Program, Bangladesh : State of Environment 2001, , (Thailand, Regional Center for Asia and the Pacific, 2001), p 35. [ii] Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Economy of Bangladesh, December 18, 2009, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Bangladesh [iii] M Aminul Islam, Industrial Pollution in Bangladesh: A Detailed Analysis, Banglapedia. http://www.banglapedia.org/httpdocs/HT/E_0063.HTM [iv] Narottam Gaan, Environment and National Security-The Case of South Asia, (New Delhi, South Asian Publihers Pvt Ltd, 2000), p 37. [v] State of the World's Forests, Published by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. http://rainforests.mongabay.com/deforestation/2000/Bangladesh.htm [vi] M. Mainuddin, Groundwater Irrigation in Bangladesh: ‘Tool for Poverty Alleviation’ or ‘Cause of Mass Poisoning’', http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/iwmi-tata_html/PM2003/PPT/GWAsia/GWGov_Main- uddin.PPT [vii] Narottam Gaan, Environment and conflict: Linkage In Indo-Bnagladesh Relation, (New Delhi, Har-Anand Publications,1994), p 155. [viii] BANBEIS, Bangladesh : Country Profile, http://www.banbeis.gov.bd/bd_pro.htm [ix] Md. Abdur Rouf and Sarwar Jahan, Urban Centres in Bangladesh: Trends, Patterns and Characteristics and Report of 2008 by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. [x] Hafiz and Islam, Op Cit, p 25. [xi] Changing Climate, Report of the Carbon Dioxide Warming Projection from US. National Academy of Science, Assessment Committee, Washington DC. 1983. [xii] Greenhouse Effect, Sea Level Rise, and Land Use, Climate Change - Health and Environmental Effects, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. http://epa.gov/ climatechange/effects/coastal/SLRLandUse.html [xiii] Hafiz and Islam, Op Cit, p 28 [xiv] Water Security, Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies, http://www.bipss.org.bd/download/watersecsem/Water_security_%20for_ Bangladesh [xv] Environmental Policy, Op Cit, p 15. [xvi] Hafiz and Islam, Op Cit, p 29. [xvii] Hafiz and Islam, Op Cit, p 35 [xviii] Richard Ullman, Redefining Security, International Security, Vol. 8, 1993, pp 129-53. [xix] Jane Davis, Security Issues in the Post-Cold War World, (UK, Edward Elger Ltd, 1996), p 14. [xx] Bangladesh at a Glance, World Bank Data, http://devdata.worldbank.org/AAG/ bgd_aag.pdf [xxi] Thomas F. Homer-Dixon, Environmental Scarcities and Violent Conflict: Evidence from Cases, Peace and Conflict Studies Program, (University of Toronto, International Security, Vol. 19, No. I, Summer 1994), pp 5-40. BIBLIOGRAPHY Books 1. Ambasht R.S. and Ambasht P.K, Environment and Pollution, 2nd Edition, (Varanasi, Students` Friends and Co, 1992). 2. Gaan Narottam, Environment and National Security-The Case of South Asia, (New Delhi, South Asian Publihers Pvt Ltd, 2000). 3. Garg M. R, Bansal V. K and Tiwana N.S, Environmental Pollution and Protection, (Deep and Deep Publications, New Delhi, 1995). 4. Imber Mark F, Environment Security and UN Reform, (St. Martin Press, 1994). 5. Plant Glen, Environmental Protection and the Law of War, (Belhaven Press, London and New York 1993). 6. Varshney C.K. and Sardesai D.R, Environmental Challenges, (New Delhi, Wiley Eastern Limited, 1993). Periodicals 7. 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Bangladesh: State of the Environment 2001, Department of Environment, Ministry of Environment and Forest. 21. FAA 118 / 119 Analysis* Conservation of Tropical Forests and Biological Diversity in Bangladesh July 2005. 22. Hafiz M Abdul and Islam Nahid, Environmental Degradation and Intra/Interstate Conflicts in Bangladesh, Environment and Conflict Project, Occasional Paper No.6 (Bern/Zurich, May 1993) 23. Homer-Dixon Thomas F, Environmental Scarcities and Violent Conflict: Evidence from Cases, Peace and Conflict Studies Program, (University of Toronto, International Security, Vol. 19, No. I, Summer 1994), pp 5-40. 24. National Action Programme (NAP) for Combating Desertification, Department of Environment Ministry of Environment and Forest Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh August 2005. 25. The Impact of Climate Change on Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing Nation, United Nations, New York, June 2007. Websites 26. http://devdata.worldbank.org/AAG/bgd_aag.pdf 27. http://enviroscope.iges.or.jp/modules/envirolib/upload/1509/attach/2ws-3-Bangla.pdf 28. http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2009/02/21/59430.html 29. http://projects.cie.org.uk/banglao/textbook/environmentanddevelopment/environ- mental/deforestation/index_html/view 30. http://www.gisdevelopment.net/news/viewn.asp'id=GIS:N_uqgixwfsez 31. http://www.springerlink.com/content/g0566kkg84854q6t/ 32. http://www.bipss.org.bd/download/watersecsem/Water_security_%20for_ Bangladesh 33. http://projects.cie.org.uk/banglao/textbook/environmentanddevelopment/enviro- nmental/deforestation/index_html/view 34. http://epa.gov/climatechange/effects/coastal/SLRLandUse.html 35. http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/12/24/d61224061081.htm 36. http://www.banbeis.gov.bd/bd_pro.htm 37. http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/iwmi-tata_html/PM2003/PPT/GWAsia/GWGov_Main- uddin.PPT 38. http://www.lcgbangladesh.org/derweb/flood2007/Newsclips/ReliefWeb_Bangl- adesh%20Flood%20death%20toll%20nears%201000_12Sep07.pdf 39. http://rainforests.mongabay.com/deforestation/2000/Bangladesh.htm 40. http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2009/05/19/66896.html 41. http://www.banglapedia.org/httpdocs/HT/E_0063.HTM 42. http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php'nid=106216 Friday, September 18, 2009 43. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Bangladesh . ----------------------- % of Urban Population Politics Security Economy Ecology Climate Ethnic Conflicts Decrease in Quality and Quantity of Resources Population Growth Unequal Access to Resources Increased Environmental Scarcity Migration, Expulsion Decreased Economic Productivity Weakened States Social Effects Deprivation Conflicts Million of Hectars ▪ Forest Cover Legend 3 m Rise – 1 m Rise –