Revitalizing Environmental Governance: Examining the Limitations of the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act 1995 and Pathways to Strengthen Legal Frameworks

This study reflects the gaps in Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act (ECA) 1995 and suggests pragmatic approach to deal with environmental governance. It emphasizes systemic gaps- at the level of laws, enforcement mechanisms and inter-institutional coordination that has impeded ECA 1995 effectiveness in addressing new generation issues like industrial pollution and climate change. The study is qualitative in nature integrating descriptive, analytical and comparative approaches based on archival data including legal documents, government records and international standards from Norway as well as other jurisdictions such as Costa Rica and India. The findings indicate that the Act is undermined by bad governance, antiquated regulations and parallel institutional regime show case examples in the form of Hazaribagh Tanneries and Approval of Rampal Power Plant. Further delays on accountability are also caused by a failure to provide administrative remedies and environmental courts. It aids policy debate by proposing complete reforms that incorporate penalties, climate change adaptation efforts and expansion of Department of Environment's ability to perform. As lessons learned from global efforts, the study underlines to harmonize the existing laws with international accords and clarify its language. The study highlights the imperative of legal and institutional reforms for aligning Bangladesh’s environmental governance with sustainable development objectives, as well as presents a road map to policy-level actors on how to tackle systemic gaps.