The Jatiya Sangsad on Tuesday passed the Bangladesh Haor and Wetland Conservation Bill, 2026.

The legislation is designed to ensure the protection, conservation, and sustainable development of the nation's unique haor ecosystems and wetlands.

The bill was introduced by Water Resources Minister Md. Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee and passed by voice vote, with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, presiding over the session.

Legal Framework and Institutionalization

The Act serves to fulfill the state's constitutional obligation under Article 18 Ka to protect natural resources and biodiversity, while also adhering to a 2020 High Court directive.

A key feature of the law is the formal regularization of the Department of Bangladesh Haor and Wetland Development as a permanent body under the Ministry of Water Resources. The department will be:

• Headquartered in Dhaka.
• Led by a government-appointed Director General.
• Authorized to establish regional offices within haor regions.

Strict Prohibitions and Environmental Safeguards

To maintain the delicate ecological balance, the Act imposes rigorous bans on several activities, including:

• Illegal encroachment, unauthorized filling, or excavation of haors and kanda (elevated lands).
• Construction of infrastructure that obstructs natural water flow.
• Contamination of soil, water, and the broader environment.
• Extraction of minerals, sand, or stones without prior approval.
• Hunting migratory birds, destroying swamp forests, and using electric shocks or banned nets for fishing.

Regulated Development and Oversight

To prevent unplanned urbanization, any government, private, or autonomous organization must now obtain a formal opinion from the department before starting development projects in haor or wetland areas.

The department will evaluate if projects:

• Damage biodiversity or the environment.
• Obstruct natural water flow.
• Impact local livelihoods or disaster management infrastructure.

Protection Orders and Penalties

The government now has the power to issue Protection Orders for wetlands where species or biodiversity are under threat.

It can also declare specific haors as protected areas with strict human activity restrictions to facilitate ecosystem recovery.

For those who violate the law, the Director General has the authority to assess the financial value of ecological damage and demand compensation.

Criminal prosecution may follow non-compliance, with offenses triable via mobile courts. Penalties include:

A maximum of two years of imprisonment, a fine of Taka two lakh, or both.

Minister’s Perspective on the Necessity of the Law

During the bill's introduction, Minister Anee traced the history of haor management back to the 1977 'Haor Development Board' and the subsequent 2016 establishment of the current department.

He explained that a stronger legal framework was essential because: "After the establishment of the department, the inadequacy of the legal framework was felt to prevent uncontrolled development of the haor area, unplanned construction of dams, creation of obstacles in the river channel, uncontrolled use of poisons and pesticides and adverse effects of tourism."