Ban on New Industrial Projects Within 10 Kilometers of Sundarbans

To protect the natural environment and prevent pollution, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has imposed a ban on establishing new industrial facilities or projects within a 10-kilometer radius of the Sundarbans Reserve Forest.

The restriction was announced through a gazette notification issued on Monday, with details later shared in a press release from the ministry. Signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Sabrina Rahman, the notification cites the authority of Section 5 of the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995 (amended 2010), declaring that no new industrial establishments or projects may be constructed within the 10-kilometer Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) surrounding the Sundarbans.

However, the notification allows for planned, eco-friendly initiatives aimed at preserving the natural environment, improving environmental standards, controlling and mitigating pollution, and promoting sustainable management within the ECA.

The ministry stated that this decision is expected to be a significant step toward maintaining ecological balance in the Sundarbans’ ECA, reinforcing efforts to safeguard the world’s largest mangrove forest.