Role of mass media in environmental sustainability of Bangladesh

Awareness building and dissemination plays a fundamental role on many levels from general public, local farmers, scientists, policy makers, planners and politician in the government regarding the environment and development inconsistency. Environmental awareness in the developing countries like Bangladesh is one of the contemporary issues. Environmental awareness helps social groups and individuals to acquire knowledge and sensitivity about the total environment and its allied problems. As the people of Bangladesh explores much knowledge of environment through television, newspaper and radio, mass media can play a vital role to enlarge the realization about the challenges, problems, eco-friendly technologies, laws and policies as well as the development aspects of environment among them.

Setting the scene

Polluted environment endangers the human race by threatening its survival on the planet earth. Historical trends of environmental movement in Bangladesh was initiated by the national commitment of the country at Stockholm Conventions in 1972 which preceded the formulation of first Water Pollution Control Ordinance in 1973 followed by Environment Pollution Control Ordinance in 1977.

In 1985, Department of Pollution Control Ordinance was established which subsequently renamed and structured as Department of Environment (DOE). The idea of environmental protection through national efforts was first recognized and declared with the adoption of the Environmental Policy 1992. Since the beginning of such interventions very few of the environment policy directives and guidelines have been translated into action.

Till to date, Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act (ECA) 1995 serves as the only legal basis for Environment Conservation Rules (1997) that specifically deals with conservation and improvement of environmental standards for controlling and mitigating environmental pollution. To reinforce the policy, Environment Conservation Rules (1997) was subsequently amended in 2000. For the implementation and leadership, the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) was assigned to play the role of lead agency.

A National Environmental Committee was created with the Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as the Chairperson to give overall direction for implementation of this policy. However, various research studies have noted that the implementation of such policy initiatives and legislative measures have been hindered due to some institutional and functional limitations.

Bangladesh has grappled with a series of environmental deteriorations such as deforestation, destruction of wetlands and inland fisheries, surface and groundwater pollution, soil nutrient depletion, coastal salinity intrusion, natural calamities like floods, cyclones, tidal surges and tornadoes have resulted in severe socio-economic and environmental damage by a combination of natural/anthropogenic factors. Our country is making some efforts to resolve some of these environmental issues. Efforts are being made for inculcating environmental awareness among the masses. It is a system which can make the human being mindful and knowledgeable about environment and environmental problems. No efforts so far adequate to face these challenges without identifying the underlying causes nationally and addressing them locally. In order to make government environmental laws, policies, strategies, institutional capacities more effective towards sustainable environmental development, the current situation calls for participation of mass media.

Contemporary environmental challenges in Bangladesh

Water pollution: In Bangladesh, quality of water is decreasing day by day due to the different factors. These factors include large and rapidly growing population; unplanned industrial pollution; improper use of synthetic fertilizer and pesticides in Agriculture; indiscriminate disposal of municipal, industrial and agricultural wastes enter into the inland water systems, poorly designed flood control, drainage and irrigation system, lack of adequate regulatory measures and institutional setup for proper monitoring and control etc.

Land encroachment and forest biodiversity: Land is a scarce resource and forested areas have become vulnerable in Bangladesh. Out of 46,000 acres in Madhupur Sal forest, 7,800 acres have been given out to commercial plantation, 25,000 acres has given into illegal possession.

At hilly forest area, tobacco farming is increasing rather than the mainstream food. About 10 national and international companies are involved in tobacco farming.

In 2000, about 300 hectares land was used which has increased 4232 hectares in 2010. Now the farming area is about 10,000 hectares. On the other hand, shrimp farming has increased the rate of land encroachment more than double from 45,596 hectares in 2000 to 96,283 hectares in 2010 at mangrove forest area.

Air pollution: For any industrialized country, incidences of air pollution are far more widespread in the urban areas than in the rural areas.

In Bangladesh, the level of air pollution is highest in Dhaka followed by Chittagong and Khulna, the two other industrial cities. Incidence of air pollution is not an isolated event but is a continuous process as the sources of pollution operate throughout the

year.

Noise pollution: The source of most outdoor noise worldwide is transportation systems, including motor vehicle noise, aircraft noise and rail noise.  The average noise level of selected industries, hospitals and traffic places is respectively 87.09 dB, 70.58 dB, 100.79 dB which crosses the standard level.

Overview of environmental laws and policies in Bangladesh

The government has adopted a number of policies where environment and development issues have been addressed. These policies are Environment Policy (1992), the Forest Policy (1994), the Water Policy (1998), Energy Policy (1995).

Besides these policies, the National Conservation Strategy (NCS) and especially the National Environment Management Action Plan, 1995 (NEMAP) have been formulated to provide action plans to respond to environmental issues and promote sustainable development.

The National Environment Policy (NEP), 1992 embraces 15 different sectors including agriculture, industry, health and sanitation, energy and fuel, water development, flood control and irrigation, land, forest, wildlife and bio-diversity, fisheries and livestock, food, coastal and marine environment, transport and communication, housing and urbanization, population, education and public awareness, science, technology and research, legal framework and institutional arrangements with a view to covering overall environmental issues of the country. However, some goals, objectives and targets need to be assigned for each of these sectors. Then the necessary guideline/action plan should be stated for each sector in order to develop strategies to achieve these goals and targets in the environment policy of Bangladesh.

The National Forestry Policy (1994) has been formulated in the light of National Forestry Master Plan. The policy provides scope for bringing about 20% of the country’s land under the forestation programmes of the govt. and private sector by the year 2015 through the coordinated efforts of GO-NGOs and active participation of the people. The National Water Policy, 1999 was enacted to ensure efficient and equitable management of water resource, proper harnessing and development of surface and ground water, availability of water to all concerned and institutional capacity building for water resource management. The National Energy Policy, 1996 provides for utilization of energy for sustainable economic growth, supply to different zones of the country, development of the indigenous energy sources and environmentally sound sustainable energy development programmes. The policy highlights the importance of protecting the environment by Environment Impact Assessment for any new energy development project. These policies call for both precautionary and cross sectoral approach to minimize impact from other sectors like industry, transportation, urbanization, flood control etc.

Mass media and their programmes

There are two types of media in Bangladesh - print media and electronic media. Print media can be daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc. Daily newspapers publish nationally or from division, district or sub-district level. Electronic media means television or radio. Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television are national mass media. There are about 31 satellite television channels in our country. Television channels telecast programmes on agriculture and environmental development or degradation, water quality, tree plantation, soil and air health management, etc. Bangladesh Betar telecasts many programmes on environmental awareness and agriculture.

Daily or weekly or monthly newspapers or magazines have started to publish different articles related to environment and agriculture. It helps to introduce environmental innovation for sustainability.

Mass media airs social, economic, environmental, cultural analyses and their advantages or disadvantages, which are assessment functionalities of media. Mass media is a watchdog of a society which provides health advices, news of stock market, and advertisement of new products which influences the people’s living status. It is important to mention that, Bangladeshi mass media telecast very surface news on environmental management and agriculture which cannot touch mass people. We should be more careful about it. It’s urgent to inform people about the problems, challenges, different aspects of impact on environment.  

Role of mass media in environmental awareness

Radio: Radio is an old form of communication and it is the part of cultural landscape around the world. It airs different programmes and entertains mass people in Bangladesh. Radio can telecast different dramas and advertisements about environmental awareness and agriculture to educate people.

Television: Television can play a key role to explore development and degradation status of environment in Bangladesh. It can educate people by broadcasting information of importance of mushroom cultivation, negative impacts of commercial cultivation, tobacco farming, make people aware about environmental laws and policies, water policies, forest policies, agricultural policies as well as disaster management, etc.

Newspapers: Newspapers easily create awareness among people by asserting special features on environmental pollution, air pollution, water connects, quality and security, land encroachment, commercial cultivation induced climate change, riverbank erosion, wildlife management, food security and adulteration, eco-tourism, etc.

Film: Film is a powerful media. It is an audio-visual media and can influence audience very easily. By using it, it is possible to make people aware of the contemporary environmental issues and problems. But their functions still not enough in Bangladesh although mobile film unit under the ministry of information exhibits some awareness programmes on environment and agriculture in rural areas in Bangladesh. This should be comprehensive in remote area.

Internet: Due to the revolution of information technology, it has become an effective and powerful mass media. Young generations are very much interested in internet. Bangladesh telecommunication regulatory commission, ministry of science and technology, ministry of information and technology can make some environment and agriculture related apps which can resolve environmental curiosity of young people of Bangladesh. This mass media can be a vital media to educate and make people aware environmentally.

Importance of bio-ferlizers: Mass media can explore the different environmental problems in Bangladesh. Once upon a time, mass media investigate the artificial syndicate or price hiking of chemical fertilizers. At the mean time, newspapers can inform the people about the environmental and economic importance of bio-fertilizers.

Sustainable bio-energy: According to the “a framework for decision maker” (United Nations report), the earth would be forestless if the processing of bio-energy starts by destructing wheat, palm, bamboo etc different trees, the poor countries will be in food insecurity and environmental tribulations. Mass media can easily disseminate such kind information among the mass people for their awareness.

Concept of Seeds, Fertilizers, Pesticides and Agricultural Instruments: Mass media can provide information how to use pesticides, fertilizers, seeds in a proper way on land, land conservation and development. Mass media can inform people that inimical pesticides kill either beneficial or harmful pests which are essential for pollination or crop production.

Information on climate change: In Bangladesh, 60 percent of the country is already flood prone. Sea level rise will have a significant impact on the low-lying coastal systems and islands. Mass media can inform mass people about the climatic seasons, climatic parameters such as maximum & minimum temperature, humidity, maximum & minimum rainfall and their impacts on biodiversity and wildlife, river ecosystem, agro ecology, cropland and water sectors etc.

Awareness on natural disasters: Mass media can inform mass people about the government capacities on disaster management, institutional capability for disaster recovery programs, carrying capacity of cyclone centers, water related diseases during hazards, functionalities of local govt. regarding relief, what step people can take before, during and after the different disasters by studying an effective disaster management cycle.

Commercial cultivation in forest: Forest areas are not out of intensive cultivation because of land encroachment and growing population rather forest areas are going under the suppression of commercial cultivation because at Sal forest, native plant species like kumbi, koroi, banza, sheura, jalpai, amloki, bohera are being replaced by alien species like rubber, acacia, eucalyptus, pine apple, teak etc. Similarly at Hill forest, native plant species like telsur, garjan, koroi, chapalish, dhundal are being replaced by tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, turmeric, groundnut, maize, teak etc. Mass media can inform government officials and mass people that, through the supreme power of national, international companies and contracting firms, all alien species are disrupting the food chain, making forest soil more toxic, changing the occupancy of wild animals, degrading the genetic potentials that effects on the stability of the present status merely the forest ecosystem at both Sal and Hill forest. Newspapers can publish special feature to aware people.

Water quality and diseases: Mass media can create awareness among mass people about the basic requirements of drinking water, effect of impurities present in water, water-borne diseases and responsible pathogens;

In Bangladesh, farmers, garment laborers, particularly nonresident Bangladeshi workers have played a vital role to develop our economy. Already we are now lower middle income country and by 2021 the government of Bangladesh envisaged to become middle income country.

Environmental awareness through mass media will provide accepted wisdom for 21st Century workforce. We are passing on complicated environmental problems regarding the environment and development conflict. Mass media can endow with a solid understanding of these problems and the basic gear to overcome environment & development conflict through creating environmental awareness among the present and future generation.

We believe environmentally literate workforce will make Bangladesh, environmentally sustainable, economically viable and socially acceptable to face real-world challenges.

The writer is an environmental analyst

 

 

Role of mass media in environmental sustainability of Bangladesh

Awareness building and dissemination plays a fundamental role on many levels from general public, local farmers, scientists, policy makers, planners and politician in the government regarding the environment and development inconsistency. Environmental awareness in the developing countries like Bangladesh is one of the contemporary issues. Environmental awareness helps social groups and individuals to acquire knowledge and sensitivity about the total environment and its allied problems. As the people of Bangladesh explores much knowledge of environment through television, newspaper and radio, mass media can play a vital role to enlarge the realization about the challenges, problems, eco-friendly technologies, laws and policies as well as the development aspects of environment among them. Setting the scene Polluted environment endangers the human race by threatening its survival on the planet earth. Historical trends of environmental movement in Bangladesh was initiated by the national commitment of the country at Stockholm Conventions in 1972 which preceded the formulation of first Water Pollution Control Ordinance in 1973 followed by Environment Pollution Control Ordinance in 1977. In 1985, Department of Pollution Control Ordinance was established which subsequently renamed and structured as Department of Environment (DOE). The idea of environmental protection through national efforts was first recognized and declared with the adoption of the Environmental Policy 1992. Since the beginning of such interventions very few of the environment policy directives and guidelines have been translated into action. Till to date, Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act (ECA) 1995 serves as the only legal basis for Environment Conservation Rules (1997) that specifically deals with conservation and improvement of environmental standards for controlling and mitigating environmental pollution. To reinforce the policy, Environment Conservation Rules (1997) was subsequently amended in 2000. For the implementation and leadership, the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) was assigned to play the role of lead agency. A National Environmental Committee was created with the Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as the Chairperson to give overall direction for implementation of this policy. However, various research studies have noted that the implementation of such policy initiatives and legislative measures have been hindered due to some institutional and functional limitations. Bangladesh has grappled with a series of environmental deteriorations such as deforestation, destruction of wetlands and inland fisheries, surface and groundwater pollution, soil nutrient depletion, coastal salinity intrusion, natural calamities like floods, cyclones, tidal surges and tornadoes have resulted in severe socio-economic and environmental damage by a combination of natural/anthropogenic factors. Our country is making some efforts to resolve some of these environmental issues. Efforts are being made for inculcating environmental awareness among the masses. It is a system which can make the human being mindful and knowledgeable about environment and environmental problems. No efforts so far adequate to face these challenges without identifying the underlying causes nationally and addressing them locally. In order to make government environmental laws, policies, strategies, institutional capacities more effective towards sustainable environmental development, the current situation calls for participation of mass media. Contemporary environmental challenges in Bangladesh Water pollution: In Bangladesh, quality of water is decreasing day by day due to the different factors. These factors include large and rapidly growing population; unplanned industrial pollution; improper use of synthetic fertilizer and pesticides in Agriculture; indiscriminate disposal of municipal, industrial and agricultural wastes enter into the inland water systems, poorly designed flood control, drainage and irrigation system, lack of adequate regulatory measures and institutional setup for proper monitoring and control etc. Land encroachment and forest biodiversity: Land is a scarce resource and forested areas have become vulnerable in Bangladesh. Out of 46,000 acres in Madhupur Sal forest, 7,800 acres have been given out to commercial plantation, 25,000 acres has given into illegal possession. At hilly forest area, tobacco farming is increasing rather than the mainstream food. About 10 national and international companies are involved in tobacco farming. In 2000, about 300 hectares land was used which has increased 4232 hectares in 2010. Now the farming area is about 10,000 hectares. On the other hand, shrimp farming has increased the rate of land encroachment more than double from 45,596 hectares in 2000 to 96,283 hectares in 2010 at mangrove forest area. Air pollution: For any industrialized country, incidences of air pollution are far more widespread in the urban areas than in the rural areas. In Bangladesh, the level of air pollution is highest in Dhaka followed by Chittagong and Khulna, the two other industrial cities. Incidence of air pollution is not an isolated event but is a continuous process as the sources of pollution operate throughout the year. Noise pollution: The source of most outdoor noise worldwide is transportation systems, including motor vehicle noise, aircraft noise and rail noise. The average noise level of selected industries, hospitals and traffic places is respectively 87.09 dB, 70.58 dB, 100.79 dB which crosses the standard level. Overview of environmental laws and policies in Bangladesh The government has adopted a number of policies where environment and development issues have been addressed. These policies are Environment Policy (1992), the Forest Policy (1994), the Water Policy (1998), Energy Policy (1995). Besides these policies, the National Conservation Strategy (NCS) and especially the National Environment Management Action Plan, 1995 (NEMAP) have been formulated to provide action plans to respond to environmental issues and promote sustainable development. The National Environment Policy (NEP), 1992 embraces 15 different sectors including agriculture, industry, health and sanitation, energy and fuel, water development, flood control and irrigation, land, forest, wildlife and bio-diversity, fisheries and livestock, food, coastal and marine environment, transport and communication, housing and urbanization, population, education and public awareness, science, technology and research, legal framework and institutional arrangements with a view to covering overall environmental issues of the country. However, some goals, objectives and targets need to be assigned for each of these sectors. Then the necessary guideline/action plan should be stated for each sector in order to develop strategies to achieve these goals and targets in the environment policy of Bangladesh. The National Forestry Policy (1994) has been formulated in the light of National Forestry Master Plan. The policy provides scope for bringing about 20% of the countrys land under the forestation programmes of the govt. and private sector by the year 2015 through the coordinated efforts of GO-NGOs and active participation of the people. The National Water Policy, 1999 was enacted to ensure efficient and equitable management of water resource, proper harnessing and development of surface and ground water, availability of water to all concerned and institutional capacity building for water resource management. The National Energy Policy, 1996 provides for utilization of energy for sustainable economic growth, supply to different zones of the country, development of the indigenous energy sources and environmentally sound sustainable energy development programmes. The policy highlights the importance of protecting the environment by Environment Impact Assessment for any new energy development project. These policies call for both precautionary and cross sectoral approach to minimize impact from other sectors like industry, transportation, urbanization, flood control etc. Mass media and their programmes There are two types of media in Bangladesh - print media and electronic media. Print media can be daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc. Daily newspapers publish nationally or from division, district or sub-district level. Electronic media means television or radio. Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television are national mass media. There are about 31 satellite television channels in our country. Television channels telecast programmes on agriculture and environmental development or degradation, water quality, tree plantation, soil and air health management, etc. Bangladesh Betar telecasts many programmes on environmental awareness and agriculture. Daily or weekly or monthly newspapers or magazines have started to publish different articles related to environment and agriculture. It helps to introduce environmental innovation for sustainability. Mass media airs social, economic, environmental, cultural analyses and their advantages or disadvantages, which are assessment functionalities of media. Mass media is a watchdog of a society which provides health advices, news of stock market, and advertisement of new products which influences the peoples living status. It is important to mention that, Bangladeshi mass media telecast very surface news on environmental management and agriculture which cannot touch mass people. We should be more careful about it. Its urgent to inform people about the problems, challenges, different aspects of impact on environment. Role of mass media in environmental awareness Radio: Radio is an old form of communication and it is the part of cultural landscape around the world. It airs different programmes and entertains mass people in Bangladesh. Radio can telecast different dramas and advertisements about environmental awareness and agriculture to educate people. Television: Television can play a key role to explore development and degradation status of environment in Bangladesh. It can educate people by broadcasting information of importance of mushroom cultivation, negative impacts of commercial cultivation, tobacco farming, make people aware about environmental laws and policies, water policies, forest policies, agricultural policies as well as disaster management, etc. Newspapers: Newspapers easily create awareness among people by asserting special features on environmental pollution, air pollution, water connects, quality and security, land encroachment, commercial cultivation induced climate change, riverbank erosion, wildlife management, food security and adulteration, eco-tourism, etc. Film: Film is a powerful media. It is an audio-visual media and can influence audience very easily. By using it, it is possible to make people aware of the contemporary environmental issues and problems. But their functions still not enough in Bangladesh although mobile film unit under the ministry of information exhibits some awareness programmes on environment and agriculture in rural areas in Bangladesh. This should be comprehensive in remote area. Internet: Due to the revolution of information technology, it has become an effective and powerful mass media. Young generations are very much interested in internet. Bangladesh telecommunication regulatory commission, ministry of science and technology, ministry of information and technology can make some environment and agriculture related apps which can resolve environmental curiosity of young people of Bangladesh. This mass media can be a vital media to educate and make people aware environmentally. Importance of bio-ferlizers: Mass media can explore the different environmental problems in Bangladesh. Once upon a time, mass media investigate the artificial syndicate or price hiking of chemical fertilizers. At the mean time, newspapers can inform the people about the environmental and economic importance of bio-fertilizers. Sustainable bio-energy: According to the a framework for decision maker (United Nations report), the earth would be forestless if the processing of bio-energy starts by destructing wheat, palm, bamboo etc different trees, the poor countries will be in food insecurity and environmental tribulations. Mass media can easily disseminate such kind information among the mass people for their awareness. Concept of Seeds, Fertilizers, Pesticides and Agricultural Instruments: Mass media can provide information how to use pesticides, fertilizers, seeds in a proper way on land, land conservation and development. Mass media can inform people that inimical pesticides kill either beneficial or harmful pests which are essential for pollination or crop production. Information on climate change: In Bangladesh, 60 percent of the country is already flood prone. Sea level rise will have a significant impact on the low-lying coastal systems and islands. Mass media can inform mass people about the climatic seasons, climatic parameters such as maximum minimum temperature, humidity, maximum minimum rainfall and their impacts on biodiversity and wildlife, river ecosystem, agro ecology, cropland and water sectors etc. Awareness on natural disasters: Mass media can inform mass people about the government capacities on disaster management, institutional capability for disaster recovery programs, carrying capacity of cyclone centers, water related diseases during hazards, functionalities of local govt. regarding relief, what step people can take before, during and after the different disasters by studying an effective disaster management cycle. Commercial cultivation in forest: Forest areas are not out of intensive cultivation because of land encroachment and growing population rather forest areas are going under the suppression of commercial cultivation because at Sal forest, native plant species like kumbi, koroi, banza, sheura, jalpai, amloki, bohera are being replaced by alien species like rubber, acacia, eucalyptus, pine apple, teak etc. Similarly at Hill forest, native plant species like telsur, garjan, koroi, chapalish, dhundal are being replaced by tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, turmeric, groundnut, maize, teak etc. Mass media can inform government officials and mass people that, through the supreme power of national, international companies and contracting firms, all alien species are disrupting the food chain, making forest soil more toxic, changing the occupancy of wild animals, degrading the genetic potentials that effects on the stability of the present status merely the forest ecosystem at both Sal and Hill forest. Newspapers can publish special feature to aware people. Water quality and diseases: Mass media can create awareness among mass people about the basic requirements of drinking water, effect of impurities present in water, water-borne diseases and responsible pathogens; In Bangladesh, farmers, garment laborers, particularly nonresident Bangladeshi workers have played a vital role to develop our economy. Already we are now lower middle income country and by 2021 the government of Bangladesh envisaged to become middle income country. Environmental awareness through mass media will provide accepted wisdom for 21st Century workforce. We are passing on complicated environmental problems regarding the environment and development conflict. Mass media can endow with a solid understanding of these problems and the basic gear to overcome environment development conflict through creating environmental awareness among the present and future generation. We believe environmentally literate workforce will make Bangladesh, environmentally sustainable, economically viable and socially acceptable to face real-world challenges. The writer is an environmental analyst