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Experience with public interest litigations
Public participation

Participation of the public in Bangladesh

Lack of awareness regarding public participation
- There is little scope in relation to public participation in environmental issues in Bangladesh. There are many statutory laws and by-laws prevailing in Bangladesh, but due to various barriers most of the laws remain dormant. Public participation has not been encouraged by environmental laws and policies. Lack of awareness, lack of timeworthy legislation, sectoral laws, cost and resources, and institutional constraints are the main reasons for this. There should be reforms made to increase the opportunity of public participation in environmental matters in Bangladesh.

Increase public awareness with respect to environmental matters
1. To enhance public awareness in environmental matters and to enable the people to act as the protector of the environment, it is essential to improve the standard of living of the people who are living under the poverty line in Bangladesh.

Promotion of constructive literary programs
2. To develop the consciousness on environmental rights, constructive literary programs should be promoted.

Adoption of time worthy legislation
3. For proper environmental management, a time worthy legislation should be adopted. In addition, all sectoral laws should be effectively amalgamated into an environmental code.

A right to environment as a fundamental constitution right
4. A "Right to Environment" should be incorporated as a fundamental right in Bangladesh Constitution.

Provision of adequate legal aid
5. For the suitable and needy applicants, to conduct their proceedings, there should be introduced a provision to provide adequate legal aid.

Informal hearing
6. A more informal and less intimidating hearings in relation to inquiry should be introduced in Bangladesh.

Opinion on certain development applications
7. There is a need for a specific provision, which will enable the adjoining neighbor to enter their opinion on certain development applications.

Institutionalized EIA process
8. The EIA process in Bangladesh needs to be institutionalized. In doing that, public understanding and appreciation of the environmental issues, trained manpower, and strong administrative machinery are necessary.

Open procedural legal enactment
9. Environmental laws and policies should be made through open procedures and be enforceable by citizens through open access to the court.