Bangladesh: Environments worst friend

In Chittagong, families of the recently deceased in the monsoon ravaged region are seeking answers from the current interim-administration, after years of constant depletion and destruction of their own environment.

Special NFB-Blog report

Image by Monsoon Lover

In the 1990's, after the inauguration of democracy, Bangladesh witnessed a boom in its real estate sector. What followed it, was shameless destruction of nature reserves all over Bangladesh. Chittagong was not the only victim.

Places like Sylhet, the greater region of Dhaka, and outskirts of other major cities like Barisal, Rajshahi, Khulna and Narayanganj became the prized property for fly-by real estate companies, who exploited their contacts in government through regular pay-offs.

Leading companies in the private sector were the main culprits, though, ironically government sector organizations played a pivotal role in depleting the environment to its current state.

While Chittagong has seen the worst display of human-exploitation, in recent years. In Sylhet, tea estates and other natural entities have been crushed, as companies exploited relaxed environmental legislations, aiming to build the so called mega-cities of the future, targeted towards the large expatriate community.

Dhaka's environment has been brought to its current depleted state by companies like the Bashundhara Group (East West Property Development), Rangs Group, Partex Group and other leading private sector developers. Critics of Bangladeshi governments since the 90's, have widely accused politicians of profiting from deals worth millions.

Some have even alleged that, the leading ladies Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia were the recipients of prized real-estate possessions from some leading real-estate developers. The current caretaker government has been forced to look deeply behind the cause of the death of more than a hundred people, in a night of stormy-weather.

It has formed a high-level team to investigate, why for years, the beautiful mountains of Chittagong were savaged by profiteering & land-grabbing rackets, led by politicans, businesses and high-ranking government officials.

Whatever the outcome of the investigations of the environment-trade carried out by businesses and politicians alike, It will take many-years for Bangladesh to regain its lost environmental treasures.

However, we hope criminals, whether politicians or businesses; are brought to justice, so Bangladesh can be saved from becoming the worst friend to world-environment.