Compliance Management

Chapter-9 (Environment Standards)

1. What is DOE? Briefly explain the aims and objectives; vision and mission of DOE.
Answer: The first environment activities in Bangladesh were taken soon after the
Stockholm conference on human environment. As a follow up action to the Stockholm
conference, the government of Bangladesh funded under the aegis of the department of
public health engineering and with a staff level of 27 and after promulgating the water
pollution control ordinance in 1973, a project primarily aimed at water pollution control. In
1977, Environment pollution control Board with 16 members headed by a member of the
planning commission and environment pollution control cell headed by a director with staff
complement of 26 was established. This was followed in 1977 by the 1985 by the
restructured and renamed the Department of environment the activities of which are
overseen by a director general. The department discharges its responsibilities through a head
office and six divisional offices located in Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Bogra and Sylhet.

Aims and objectives of DOE: DOEs mission is to help secure a clean and healthy
environment for the benefit of present and future generation:
a) Through the fair and consistent application of environmental rules and regulations.
b) Through guiding, training and promoting awareness of environment issues.
c) Through sustainable action on critical environmental problems that demonstrate practical
solutions and that galvanize public support and involvement.

Vision of DOE: Among the basic provisions of the fundamental State Principles of
Bangladesh has been that of 'Right to Life. Toward ensuring such a fundamental and vital
provision, the primary objective of the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act (Act No.
1 of 1995) underscores the necessity and expedience to provide for conservation of the
environment, Improvement of the environmental standards, and control and
mitigation of environmental pollution. The vision of the Department of environment has
hence, been to create necessary conditions for worthy sustenance of human lives
through protecting, upgrading and facilitating the quality of the various ecosystems
vital for healthy human living through conservation of the environment, improvement
of the environmental standards and control as well as mitigation of environmental
pollution and, thus, making Bangladesh free of pollution and environmental hazards.

Mission of DOE: The two main thrusts of the Department of Environment have been:
a) Strategic environmental management for ecosystem protection with emphasis on the
prevention and control of pollution and
b) Performing a facilitating role in contributing to the efforts of the various GOB agencies
to promote sustainable use of land, biodiversity and other natural resources.
The mission statement of the Department of Environment has, thus, been “to help secure a
clean and healthy environment for the benefit of present and future generations,
through the fair and consistent application of environmental requirements, supported
by direct action on critical environmental problems that demonstrate practical
solutions and that galvanize public support and involvement”.
The key words point to an active role of DOE in solving environmental problems with public
involvement and support through enforcement of the environmental laws and regulations
and their compliance.

2. State the legal bases and policies of DOE. Show the structure of DOE.
Answer: The department of environment though was established in 1989 it gat its legal
basis when the environment conservation act was passed in 1995. Section 3 of the act directs
about the establishment of department of Environment by the government section 21 (3)
clearly stipulates that the department of environment shall be been to have been established
under section 3 of the act this department now conducts its duties under the following acts:
1. The environment policy 1992.
2. The national environment management action plan (NEMAR), 1995
3. The environment conservation Act, 1995 and subsequent amendments.
4. Environment conservation rules, 1997
5. Environment courts act, 2000 and subsequent amendments.
6. Ozone depleting substances (control) rules, 2004.
The salient features of the above Policies, Plans, Acts and Rules appear as below:
The Environment Policy, 1992 and Implementation Programes
The objectives of the Policy arc:
 Maintaining ecological balance and ensuring sustainable development of the country
through protection and conservation of the environment
 Protecting the country from natural disasters
 Identifying and regulating all activities that pollute and destroy the environment
 Ensuring environment-friendly development in all sectors • Ensuring sustainable and
environmentally sound management of the natural resources
 Maintaining active association, as far as possible, with all international initiatives
related to environment.
The Policy details various specific policies and principles of their implementation for 15
various sectors, it also provides for an environmental action plan toward ensuring its goals
and objectives. The action plan is presented under the head 'Implementation Programme’ in
tabular form 'for each of the 15 sectors.
The National Environment Management Action Plan (NEMAP), 1995

Formulated in 1995, NEMAP envisages identification of the key environmental issues of

immediate concern to Bangladesh and the actions to halt or reduce environmental
degradation, improve the natural and manmade environment, conserve biodiversity and its
habitat, promote sustainable development and improve the quality indicators of human life.
To this end, it has grouped all the relevant necessary actions under four heads: institutional,
sectoral, location-specific and long-term issues.
The institutional aspects reflect the need of inter-sectoral cooperation to tackle
environmental problems that need new and appropriate institutional mechanisms at national
and local levels.
The sectoral aspects reflect the way the Ministries and agencies are organized and make it
easier to identify the agency to carry out the recommended actions.
The location-specific aspect focuses on particularly acute environmental problems at local
levels that need to be addressed on a priority basis.
The lone-term issues include environmental degradation of such degree that it might
become more serious and threatening than they seem to be if their cognizance is not
immediately taken.
The Environment Conservation Act, 1995

The Act underwent amendment in 2000. The provisions of the Act authorize the Director
General to undertake any activity he deems fit and necessary to conserve and enhance the
quality of environment and to control, prevent and mitigate pollution.
The Act also authorizes the Government to declare an area, through notification in the
official gazette, as ecologically critical if the ecology of that area becomes critical or is under
threat of being critical as a result of environmental degradation.
As per other provision of the Act, the Director General, after making proper assessment of
the environmental damage caused by various activities, may direct the concerned person(s)/
agencies/organizations to take corrective measures and ensure that such person(s)/agencies/
organizations comply with such directives.
Other provisions of the Act are, infer alia, as under:
(a) No industry shall be established and no project shall be undertaken anywhere obtaining
environmental clearance.
(b) The Government may, from time to time through notification in the official gazette, formulate
and issue environmental guidelines in realizing the objectives of the Act.
(c) Any person(s) violating the Act shall be subjected to a maximum of five years
imprisonment or a penalty of a maximum of one hundred thousand taka (approximately US
S 2,000), or both.")
The Environment Conservation Rules, 1997

The Environment Conservation Rules, 1997 are the first set of rules promulgated under the
Environment Conservation Act, 1995. These Rules provide for, inter alia, the following:
 The national Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) for ambient air, surface water,
groundwater, drinking water, industrial effluents, emissions, noise and vehicular
exhaust;
  Categorization of industries, envelopment projects and other activities on the basis
of actual (for existing industries/development projects/activities) and anticipated (for
proposed industries/development projects/activities) pollution load;
 Requirement for undertaking Initial Environmental Examination (IEE)
and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as well as formulating Environmental
Management Plan (EMP) according to categories of industries/development
projects/activities;
 Procedure for damage-claim by persons affected or likely to be affected due to
polluting activities or activities causing hindrance to normal civic life
The Environment Court Act, 2000
The Environment Court Act, 2000 provides for effective and expeditious disposal of law suites
in respect of all types and sources of environmental pollution. Consisting of an all together of
fourteen sections. The Act provides for, inter alia, the following:
 Setting up of a Court in each Administrative Division and an Appellate Court in
Dhaka with the rules of business as laid down in the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC)
and Civil Procedure Code (CPC);
 Assigning an officer, by the Director General, to investigate, with the power of the
officer in charge of a police station, into the offences or related matters.
Ozone depleting substances (control) rules, 2004

 Conversion to CFC-Free technology

 Recovery and recycling of ozone depleting (OD) substances (ODS) in refrigeration
and air conditioning.
 Monitoring of the activities under refrigerants management plan (RMP).
 Initiating on good practices in refrigeration.

Structure of DOE The DOE headquarters in currently organized into two main functional
areas Administration, planning and development and technical. Each is headed by a director.
There are 4 units under administration, planning and development and 5 under technical
each headed by a director. There are 4 units under administration, planning and development
and 5 under technical each headed by a deputy director or equivalent. In addition, there are
six divisional offices that carry out enforcement activities including over-all management of
the environment supported by the laboratory analysis.

3. What are the guiding and operational principles of DOE?

Answer: Given the mandate as embodied in the environment policy, 1992 the environment
conservation act 1995 the environment conservation rules 1997 DOE in being guide by
following basic principles:
1. Sharing responsibility for environmental management with all Bangladeshis and other
government agencies.
2. Serving as a catalyst for environmental action.
3. Leading by example.
4. Focusing on results.
5. Seeking cost effective solutions.
6. promoting locally developed technologies.
7. Safeguarding Bangladesh’s interest while collaborating in international forums.
8. Honest, open and creative communication
9.Working collaboratively in teams while respecting the views, knowledge and skills of
individuals.
10. Creating opportunities for all staff with gender equity and ensuring all are equipped with the
skills they need.

4. Explain in brief- the core functions of DOE.

Answer: The basic philosophy behind the establishment of the DOE was environment
conservation, pollution control and management of environment in its totality. So we can
easily measure the major functions of the DOE through analyzing the following paints of
activities:
Environmental quality monitoring: Environmental quality monitoring has been among
the primary functions of the Department since its inception. Activities in this core area
presently includes monitoring of surface water, groundwater and drinking water qualities,
air quality, and noise quality on a regular basis as well as on request from interested quarters.
It has its origin in monitoring surface water quality at some specific points along major river
systems of the country under the Global Environmental Monitoring System (GEMS), the
main component of the Earthwatch Programme, the environmental assessment arm of the
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Surface water quality monitoring is performed in three ways : (i) Ambient monitoring (on
a periodic basis at some fixed points along major river systems under GEMS); (ii)
Investigative monitoring (on the basis of specific complaints on water pollution and spot
monitoring of effluents discharged by polluting industries or ensuring effluent quality after
requisite treatment by some specific industries); and (iii) Surveillance monitoring (toward
ensuring compliance to EGA, 95 and ECR, 97 by water supply system, industries and
various other activities). Surface water monitoring got its face-lift through some endeavors
undertaken jointly with CIDA funded Bangladesh Environment Management Project
(BEMP) toward survey of the water quality of some specific rivers.
Air quality monitoring has a special feature. The officials of the Department perform this
activity on regular basis both in isolation and in collaboration with the World Bank
supported Air Quality Monitoring Project (AQMP).
Noise quality monitoring is principally done along the main thoroughfares and road-
junctions of major cities and towns of the country.
Awarding environmental clearance to industries/development project: The Environment
Conservation Act, 1995, through Article 12, necessitates all industrial units/development projects
to obtain Environmental Clearance Certificates in the manner prescribed by the Environment
Conservation Rules, 1997. The Department, as such, through its headquarters located at Dhaka
and six Divisional Offices located at Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Bogra, Sylhet and Barisal
receives applications from industries and development projects and, after requisite process, awards
the necessary Environmental Clearance Certificates to them.
Compliance & Enforcement: One of the major causes of environmental pollution in Bangladesh
is the discharge of untreated effluent from the industries. Prior to the promulgation of the
Environment Policy in 1992 and the Environment Conservation Act in 1995, industries were built
without being provided with a clearance certificate from the Department. In 2004 and 2005, the
Department surveyed 1,502 industries and identified 1,176 industries as highly polluting. These
1,176 industries were asked about their environment management plan. As a result of being served
notice to control and limit their pollution levels, the industries have provided the Department with
information with what steps they will take to reduce pollution. During the period under reference,
fresh drive was undertaken to identify the highly polluting' industries and update the list for taking
compliance and enforcement measures. To date, quite a significant number of industries have
responded to the queries made to this effect. The Department evaluates the information submitted
by these industries on their plans to control and limit pollution and then provides advice and
instructions.
Ecologically Critical Areas and Natural Resource Management: Activities under this specific
core functions area are mainly performed through the GEF/UNDP funded 'Coastal and Wetland
Biodiversity Management Project (CWBMP). The overall objective of the activity is to establish
and demonstrate an innovative system for management of Ecologically Critical Areas (ECA)
including the country's important biodiversity resources within those ECAs. The project is
expected to support efforts of the Department to gradually operationalize the ECA concept at two
main sites: one within the country's long and biodiversity rich coastal zone at Cox's Bazar and the
other consisting of the country's largest and most important freshwater wetlands at Maulvibazar.
Planning & Development and Research: The main activities in this core area are:
Policy Analysis
 Providing inputs to formulate environmental policy of the various sectors.
 Analyzing various policies of the government and advising on modifications of any
section of a policy where needed.
Planning and Evaluation
 Preparing five-year/annual development plans to fulfill central planning
requirements.
 Evaluating the progress of implementation of projects and the five-year plan on a
periodic basis.
Programme Coordination
 Co-ordination between projects and programs to ensure effective project planning
and implementation.
Monitoring and evaluation
 On-going monitoring and periodic evaluation and reporting on the progress of project
implementation.
Programme/Project Evaluation
 Making technical comments on different government and non-government
programmes projects/initiatives from environmental standpoints.
 Preparing report /position papers on various contemporary issues relating to
environment for the Ministry of Environment and Forests in order to help formulate
policy options.
Environmental awareness and partnership building: The publicity and environment
awareness unit of the department of environment is primarily responsible for creating
awareness regarding the urgent need to preserve the environment among the general public
using various local media, as well as educational and non-governmental partners. The unit
also produces and distributes educational brochures, posters, pamphlets and leaflets that
are used in schools, workshops and training program.
The department organizes events to celebrate and promote a number of environmental
awareness days, including:
- World environment day
- International ozone day
- World desertification day
- International biodiversity day
- International wetland day
Awareness initiatives have undergone a marked change in attitude and activities with the
efforts of the department toward building partnership with various focal and stakeholder
groups. Strategy of such partnership program focuses on the potential partners, such as, the
academic institutions (teachers and students belonging to various strata of the formal and
non-formal education system), development financing institutions, industry groups,
chamber of commerce and industry, boy scouts and girls guide, law enforcing agencies,
administrative authorities, ministries and government agencies, the general public,
environmental practitioner, lawyers, media journalists, politicians etc.

Human Resource Development: The Strategic Plan of the Department of Environment is

directed to focusing on its programming and making it better fulfill its mandate through
bringing in significant enhancement of its capacity. The most important ingredient to
enhancing its capacity is to enhance the capacity of its human resources-both in number and
in competence. DOE’s human resources, hence, is the most important component of this
Strategic Plan. DOE does have strong capabilities upon which to build-staff with diverse
education, solid experience, commitment and enthusiasm, with a good mix of experienced
senior officers and interested younger officers. Number of staff, however, below the level
adequate to undertake all the responsibilities that DOE is charged with and current strength
of staff does not possess all the competencies needed to do their jobs as effectively as
possible.
Accordingly, a competency-based human resources development system (HRD) is in early
stages of development. The Competency-based approach identifies the competencies needed
by the Department, translates this into the competencies needed by each staff position and
then focuses training on these needs. Training is only offered when it relates directly to
Department or personal competency need.
Compliance to regional and international conventions, treaties and protocols:
Bangladesh has demonstrated its commitment to the cause of global environmental
sustainability by signing/ ratifying many international conventions, treaties and protocols
(ICVTPs). In principle, these are legally binding. Several international meetings and
conferences have adopted resolutions that are not legally binding, but by which countries
are encouraged to abide. As a member of the United Nations (UN), the GOB has been party
to several such resolutions. Examples include the Stockholm and Rio de Janeiro
Declarations signed after the Human Environment and Environment and Development
conferences in 1972 and 1992, and decisions taken by the UN General Assembly such as
the World Conservation Strategy. World Charter for Nature, Caring for the Earth, and Our
Common Future. Lastly, Bangladesh has committed to several international environmental
conventions, treaties and protocols which define obligations in the areas they cover.
Responsibilities for meeting these commitments are determined by the Rules of Business for
government agencies. Some ICTPs deal with issues that were not major concerns when the Rules
of Business were drawn up. Afterwards, with the signing and ratification of those ICTPs, the Rules
were updated as necessary and accordingly, responsibilities were assigned to the appropriate
agencies and departments.
Information, Library and Documentation Information, library and documentation
facilities comprise an integral part of the provisions of any agency toward making it
transparent responsive to enquiries, knowledge sharing and pursuit of information by the
general public and academic persons alike. This is an area in which DOE has been very
much keen to focus is attention over the years since its existence as a full-fledged
Department. During the period under reference, specifically, during the couple of years 2005
and 2006, the Department has developed a state-of-the-art networked computing facility
which provides capabilities for computer use throughout its offices and for both internal and
external communications.
As of the present, DOE now possesses a moderately effective information, library and
documentation system for use of interested quarters. State-of-the-art networked computing
facilities provide computer use throughout the offices of the Department, and facilitate both
internal and external communications.

5. Briefly explain the DOEs activities towards the protection of environment of

Bangladesh.
Answer: The activities of the department affect every socio-economic sector and direct and
influence all activities wherever they might take place in Bangladesh. The department was
created in 1989 to ensure sustainable development and to conserve and manage the
environment of Bangladesh. Conducting operational activities in every sphere of the vast
field of environment has been cumbersome for the department of environment with limited
resource facilities and manpower. Spite of such limitations the department endeavors to
fulfill the mandate bestowed upon it by the policy the act and the rules through performing
quite a significant number of activities on a regular basis. Over the last decades the major
activities performed by the department had undergone significant metamorphosis- from a
limited scope of performing merely regulatory and routine function to a wider and broader
horizon comprising more action-intensive and research oriented endeavors of investigating,
identifying, conserving and nurturing as well as enhancing the qualities of the various
ecosystems encompassing the overall environment of country.
Regular activities: The routine and regular activities performed by the department of
Environment for the protection of the environment of Bangladesh are enumerated as
follows.
a) Environmental quality monitoring.
b) Award of environmental clearance certificate (ECC) to industries / development project.
c) Compliance and enforcement of environmental regulations.
d) Survey of Industrial pollution
e) Ectopically critical areas (ECA) and natural resource management
f) Disposing environmental complaints.
g) Controlling import and use of ozone depleting substances (ODS)
h) Undertaking specific programmes toward abatement of greenhouse effect.
i) Co-ordination with committees of various ministries/ departments / agencies
k) Undertaking steps to fulfill commitments made under various ICTPs.
Environmental quality monitoring: As has been mentioned before, Environmental quality
monitoring constituted DOE’s one of the activities at its every inception as a project in 1973.
To be more specific, the Departments earliest activities had been monitoring of the quality
of surface water at some specific points along major river systems of the country under the
global environment monitoring system (GEMS), the main component of the Earthwatch
program, UNPEs environmental assessment arm. later on depending upon necessity and
hence upon the enhanced responsibility vested upon the department the overall
environmental quality monitoring operation assumed the three types.
 Ambient monitoring
  Investigative Monitoring
 Surveillance monitoring
Surface water quality monitoring: Monitoring of surface water quality is part of the
departments ambient environmental quality operation. During the last few years the
department performed ambient, investigative and surveillance monitoring at the surface
water qualities of major systems and wetland of Bangladesh.
Ambient monitoring of water qualities is done along some fixed points including those identified
under GENs Major rivers covered under the ambient water quality monitoring activity had been
the Brahmaputra, the korotoa, the Buriganga, the testa, the Dhaleshwari, the Turag, the Turag, the
Balu, the Shitalaksha, the Jamuna, the Padma, the Karnaphuli, the Halda etc.
Surveillance monitoring is being performed on surface water (e.g. lakes, ponds etc), drinking water
(supply water from municipalities and other concerned authorities to households, hotels and
restaurants) and ground water from deep and shallow tube well sources).
Air quality Monitoring: Air quality monitoring being performed by the department has
reached a significant degree of excellence during the reference period with the gradual
expansion of the network (2002-2012) and area of activities of the world bank funded Air
quality Monitoring project (AQMP). Under the AQMP, 5 continuous air monitoring stations
(CAMS) have been established this in Dhaka, one in Rajshahi another in Chittagong and the
other one in Khulna. The principal parameters being measured for ambient air quality are
PM,10 PM,25 SO,2 NO, CO, and O3.
Brick fried and vehicular emission survey: The department of environment operates
vehicular emission survey and Brickfield survey on regular basis to measure the contribution
of these pollutant factors in polluting the ambient air system. As per information available
in reports of the six divisional offices survey was conducted during January-June of the
years of 2009 upon a total number of 1782 vehicles of various location in Dhaka, Rajshahi,
Chittagong, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet division out of the above surveyed vehicles, 826
were found defective in respect of the qualities and were fined according to the provision
under ECR 1997.
Award of ECC to industries / Development project: The Environment Conservation Act,
1995 and the Environment Conservation Rules, 1997 prescribe that all-sectoral programs
and projects are subject to the environmental assessment (EA) process and must acquire
environmental and site clearances. The process is critical to ensuring that potentially
negative impacts on the environment are avoided, and if that is not possible, mitigated.
According to the provisions laid down in the Environment Conservation Act, 1995, no
industrial unit or project shall be established or undertaken without obtaining, in the manner
prescribed by rules, an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) from the Director
General of the Department. As specified in clause 7 of the Environmental Conservation
Rules, 1997, all new industries and projects, including the existing ones which operate
without any clearance from the Department, are under legal obligation to apply for
Environmental Clearance Certificates. Industries and projects are classified into four
categories -Green, Orange-A, Orange-B, and Red depending upon their location and
potential impact on the environment. Schedule - I of the Environment Conservation Rules,
1997 lists the types of industries and projects Falling under the above four categories. The
Rules provides a prescribed form of application for Environment Clearance Certificate
(Form 3 of ECR 1997). Green industries are automatically granted clearance certificates.
Orange categories need to submit considerable further information and plans, and may be
subject to field inspection. Industries belonging to moderately polluting Orange-B and
highly polluting Red categories, must in addition, conduct detailed Environmental Impact
Assessment and prepare environmental management plans satisfactory to the Department.
Ecologically critical areas (ECA) and natural resource Management: In pursuance of
the provision under Section 5 of the Environment Conservation Act, 1995, notice declaring
ecologically critical areas was issued on April 19, 1999. These areas comprise, inter alia, ten
kilometers around the Sundarbans Reserve Forests, Cox’s bazaar and Teknaf sea shore,
Saint Martin’s Island, Sonadia, Hakaluki Haor, Tanguar Haor, and Marjat Haor. Activities
banned in these areas include: felling or collecting trees from these areas; hunting catching
or killing wildlife; industrial establishment; fishing and other activities that might affect fish
and other aquatic life; and any activity that could destroy or change the natural
characteristics of soil or water. The ECA introduces the concept of a supportive role for
DOE to perform in helping other agencies deliver their conservation mandates. However, it
assigns limited authority to DOE itself, and that is to designate ecologically critical areas,
and to prescribe allowed or prohibited uses for those areas. To date, DOE has designated six
ecologically critical areas and has plans to designate several more. However, the DOE's
resources for this work are extremely limited. Over the next few years, the Department will
concentrate on assessing the need and priorities for designating and managing ecologically
critical areas, and on defining a strategy for meeting these needs. This includes developing
proposals for establishing and institutionalizing clear processes and procedures for
designating and managing ecologically critical areas. In the meantime, DOE will continue
to liaise with other government agencies in support of their efforts to safeguard biological
productivity and biodiversity.
Disposing environmental complaints: Besides performing regular activities toward
identification, determining quality of pollution by various sectors and prescribing corrective
measures toward maintenance of the various environmental quality standards as per the
Environment Conservation Rules, 1997, the Department also receives and makes disposal
of complaints on environmental issues made by individuals and, individual agencies as well
as acts on the basis of news items appearing in local and national dailies. The nature of such
complaints as well as the news items which the Department responds to and acts upon is
varied comprising air pollution (odor, dust, smoke, etc), water pollution (dumping of
household, municipal, industrial or other types of wastes into lakes, ponds, etc., causing
inconvenience to people of adjoining areas), noise pollution, etc.
Upon receipt of the complaints, the Department, in its regular coordination meetings, takes
their due consideration and decides upon investigating the spots on which they are made.
The results of these spot investigations then lead to serving notice to concerned quarters and
agencies, withdrawal of clearance (if any) earlier made to the activities or filing cases against
polluters.
Environmental awareness and partnership building:
Environmental awareness: The publicity and environmental awareness unit of the
department of environment is primarily responsible for creating awareness regarding the
urgent need to preserve the environment among the general public using various local media
as well as educational and non- government partners. It also produces and distributes
educational brochures, posters, pamphlets and leaflets that are used in schools, workshops
and training program.
Activities undertaken by the by the department of environment during the year 2009 had
been as under.
a) Publication of public notices on various environmental issues in leading national dailies
on a regular basis.

b) Telecasting of television clipping short times and documentaries regarding environmental

degradation on BTV and other satellite channels.
c) School based awareness building campaign in the major cities.
During the year of 2009 the department also organized event to celebrate a number of
environmental awareness days to promote awareness on various issues related to
environment among the general masses of people.
Partnership for Environment Protection (PEP): The Department of Environment has
planned to embark upon a unique program for protection of the environment. Based upon
the spirit of partnership with various stakeholders groups the program, named as Partnership
for Environment Protection(PEP) is aimed to foster and ensure ownership of the activities
among the various stakeholders toward a fruitful and sustained conservation and enlistment
of the environment in specific areas and activities of various group of people belonging to
the academic institutions, industrial establishments, local governments and plain land,
coastal and hill communities of the country.
The aim of PEP is to combat pollution through partnership with specific stakeholders and
thereafter to establish pollution free model households, villages, unions, upazillas and
districts, in gradual sequence in each of the six Administrative Divisions; to regenerate, at
least partly some of the wetlands, lakes, beels, rivers etc., that have been lost over the years;
to restore the ecosystems that have been destroyed by human interventions and natural
poverty alleviation among the people living in hilly areas.
Planning, development and research: The department has two major distinct branch names as
“planning, development” and “research”. Their major responsibility is to ensure effecting planning
and development process in combating environmental issues through appropriate research
methodology. The outcome of this section plays a vital role in making the national environment
policy and regulations. The department also provides implementation status reports on its various
projects to the administrative ministry, the planning commission, IMED, ERD, inputs toward
various sectoral environmental policies and analyzed various other policies of the government in
environmental view point.
Compliance to regional and international convention, treaties and protocols: The
department performs, as it had been doing in the past, regular activities toward ensuring
compliance to regional and international conventions, treaties and protocols and undertakes
various programs and projects to this end. These ICTPs, inter alia, are:
o United Nations framework convention on climate change (UNFCCC)
o Kyoto protocol to the UNFCCC
o United nations convention on biological diversity (CBD)
o Cartagena protocol on bio-safety.
o Montreal protocol on substance that delete the ozone layer
o Basel convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous
waste and their disposal
o The Stockholm convention on POPs
o United Nations convention to combat desertification (CCD), etc.
Environmental information and documentation: The department has, during the couple
of years 2008 and 2009, developed within itself a state-of-the-art infrastructure of
information technology facilities. This facility brings together all the divisional offices of
the department together through local and wide area networking system and facilities
internal and external communications. DOE’s information technology policy lays out
conditions for good practices and procedures to help expand and optimize use of it’s
information, documentation and library system inside it’s premises and by the interested
quarters in pursuit of information and knowledge sharing. As DOE grows, so too will the
system. DOE officers are acquiring environment computing and management skills at an
impressive rate.
To facilitate this growth, an IT support group has been established to recommend IT
standards, maintain IT inventory, review proposed acquisitions related to IT and monitor IT
performance. The group is headed by an IT coordinator who is the focal point for IT matters
at the management level and coordinates the technical expertise and opinions of support
group stuff members.