ROLE OF ENVIRONMENTAL NGOS IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN BANGLADESH

This article examines the important and growing role of environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs) in promoting sustainable development in Bangladesh. It provides an overview of the environmental NGO sector in the country, from large, well-established organizations to smaller, grassroots movements. The study analyzes the diverse roles and strategies of these ENGOs. These include raising public awareness about environmental issues, undertaking community-based conservation and resource management projects, and engaging in policy advocacy to influence government environmental policies and laws. The research uses case studies of specific ENGO campaigns, such as those related to industrial pollution or forest conservation, to illustrate their effectiveness. The paper argues that ENGOs have become a vital third force in the country's environmental governance, often acting as a crucial watchdog and a source of innovation. The analysis concludes by assessing the challenges faced by the ENGO sector, including issues of funding, capacity, and their relationship with the government.

In a country facing as many environmental challenges as Bangladesh, the role of civil society is of paramount importance. This paper provides a detailed examination of the contribution of environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs) to the goal of sustainable development. The study begins by mapping the landscape of the ENGO sector in Bangladesh, identifying the major actors and their areas of focus. The core of the article is a functional analysis of the diverse roles that these organizations play. The first role identified is that of public education and awareness-raising. The paper highlights how ENGOs have been instrumental in bringing critical issues, like the arsenic crisis, to national and international attention. The second role is that of grassroots implementation. The study provides examples of successful community-based projects in areas like social forestry and wetland management, demonstrating the ability of ENGOs to work effectively at the local level. The third, and increasingly important, role is policy advocacy. The paper analyzes how organizations like the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) have used public interest litigation and other advocacy tools to challenge environmentally destructive projects and to push for stronger environmental laws and their enforcement. The findings reveal that ENGOs have become a vital and dynamic part of the environmental governance system in Bangladesh. The paper concludes by discussing the challenges of sustainability and scale that these organizations face, and the importance of a constructive, rather than confrontational, relationship with the state to achieve their shared goals.