Introducing BELA
As a group of lawyers, BELA was established in 1992 with the broad objective of promoting environmental justice and contributing to the development of sound environmental jurisprudence. Environment and natural resources support the lives and livelihood of majority of the people in Bangladesh in numerous invaluable ways. Two third of the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) comes from agriculture whereas sixty percent of the people have their only protein intake from the rich sweet water fishery of the country. Bangladesh shares with India the largest mangrove forest of the world and the largest unbroken coastline. The country has an extensive network of about 300 rivers with a flow of 25, 000 kilometres. The hill areas of Bangladesh are known for their rich biodiversity and cultural diversity.
While Bangladesh could have been known in the world for its rivers, coastal areas, forests, biodiversity and related culture, the country instead has been portrayed as a land of dense population, disasters and miseries. This has happened mainly due to faulty policy priorities and approaches and of course poor governance that also accounts for non-implementation of environmental laws. A narrow and isolated law/policy making trend resulted in over exploitation of resources nullifying
Dr. Mohiuddin Farooque was born on 25 June 1954 at Gopalganj. He did his Masters in Law from the University of Dhaka and was the University Prize Man for the year 1979. Dr. Farooque obtained his doctoral degree from the University of Manchester on International River Law in 1988.
He established BELA in 1992 and
Achievements
Goldman Award 2009
The picture shows Rizwana receiving the award on the World Environment Day, 2007 from the Advisor to the Ministry of Environment and Forest Dr. C S Karim.
For its contribution in the field of environmental education and awareness, BELA received the Environment Award in 2007 from the Government of Bangladesh. BELA was amongst the first four recipients to receive the award introduced the same year.
Research Publication
The following books have been published by BELA: Law & Custom Forest in Bangladesh: Issues & Remedies.
Public Awareness Campaign
A week-long training on Environment and Environmental Law is offered once in every three months and is open for
Public Interest Litigation/Advocacy
The use of legal mechanism as a tool produced various means and ends in addressing environmental injuries. The agenda of PIL