Tackling environmental crisis

Today, June 5, marks the World Environment Day. While the occasion is being observed across the country, Bangladesh's environmental reality leaves little room for celebration. Instead, it calls for urgent attention and collective action. As one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, this riverine nation is increasingly burdened with a range of human-induced environmental challenges.
Among the most pressing concerns are air and water pollution. Major cities, particularly Dhaka, frequently rank among the world's most polluted urban areas. Emissions from vehicles, brick kilns, construction activities and unplanned industrialisation continue to degrade air quality, posing serious risks to public health. At the same time, rivers such as the Buriganga are being contaminated by industrial waste, plastic and polythene, threatening aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity.
Environmental degradation is further exacerbated by indiscriminate tree felling, hill cutting, wetland encroachment and the growing menace of plastic pollution. These activities are disrupting the ecological balance, accelerating biodiversity loss, and contributing to more frequent and severe climate-related events, including heat waves and floods. Excessive extraction of groundwater is also creating water scarcity in many parts of the country.
The World Environment Day should not remain merely a symbolic observance. Protecting the environment requires stronger enforcement of environmental laws, effective pollution-control measures, reduced dependence on single-use plastics and large-scale afforestation initiatives. Safeguarding the environment is not merely an ecological responsibility -- it is essential to ensuring a sustainable and secure future for generations to come.

Ibrahim Ibney Aziz
Department of Sociology
University of Dhaka