Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association
Encyclopedia
Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association , in short BELA (বেলা), one of the leading nonprofit organization of lawyears, established in 1992 to provide judicial assistance in saving environment, and achieved the 'Global 500 Roll of Honour' under United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) in 2003. As one of the leading lawyears organization, from the beginning of its establishment it is delivering judicial support to save environment. And for this, BELA was awarded the prestiguous "Poribesh Puroshkar" (পরিবেশ পুরস্কার) or the 'Environmental Prize' of the Peoples' Republic of Bangladesh Government in 2007.
But BELA faced a serious shock after the death of Mr. Mohiuddin Farooque in 1997, and by this time a member of BELA, advocate Ms. Rizwana Hasan
took the duty to direct BELA. With her proper guidance BELA turned around to be the leading lawyears organization to support people for environment.
BELA became the member of IUCN (World Conservation Union), Environmental Law Allainces Worldwide (E-LAW) and South Asian Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE), Coalition of Environmental NGOs (CEN) to organize its activities. As a member of these organization BELA has a well-managed network.
Election, was unlawfully doing their promotion in Old Dhaka, by overruling the 1860's Environmental Law of Bangladesh. As a leading member of BELA, Rizwana Hasan made the charge to court against such unlawful acts; and the Court judged it as an unlawful act. And after then, Bangladesh Election Commission
(EC) took initiative to stop promotion acts in elections which are harmful to environment.
Under the supervision of Rizwana Hasan, BELA started its war against the shipbreaking industry in Bangladesh. On behalf of BELA, Rizwana took the first judicial account against shipbreaking industry due to the unsafe environment of work for the workers, unhealthy workspace and environmentally unsafe garbage of this industry. Then took another three accounts demanding rights for the workers and the ban in Bangladesh of ships carrying poisonous substances. And in 2003 Court judged the rules to decision that, no ship will be allowed for shipbreaking without the 'Environmental Clearance'. And that was a notable achievement of BELA.
Beside that, BELA took initiative where environment is under threat, including housing by covering wetlands, unnecessary usage of polythene, cutting of hills, deforestion, shrimp cultivation, unlawful construction in St. Martin's Island
etc.
In recent days, BELA opened a regular cell in their headquarter, from where they received lawful complaints regarding environment. Beside that, pollution due to vehicles, industrial pollution, river-pollution, wetlands preservation, commercial shrimp production -in all types of hazards to environment, BELA fights for justice in law. BELA also took the judicial compenstion account against Naiko after the Tengratila Explotion, in 2006.
Beside that, BELA published "BELA Newsletter" in English and "Bela Barta" (বেলা বার্তা) in Bangla, two weekly supplements of their recent activities and timeline.
Organization
Bangladeshi Renowned lawyear Mr. Dr. Mohiuddin Farooque established BELA in 1992 and he was the Chief Executive of the organization. From the very beginning BELA initiated a proper monitoring to the tasks against the active Judicial Laws for environment in Bangladesh. In the mean time BELA took initiative to aware people. By these, the main objective of BELA was to ensure justice to the development of proper environmental jurisprudence.But BELA faced a serious shock after the death of Mr. Mohiuddin Farooque in 1997, and by this time a member of BELA, advocate Ms. Rizwana Hasan
Rizwana Hasan
Syeda Rizwana Hasan is an attorney and environmentalist from Bangladesh. She has particularly focused on regulations for the shipbreaking industry in Bangladesh, and was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2009.-Education:She attended Viqarunnisa Noon School for her secondary education and...
took the duty to direct BELA. With her proper guidance BELA turned around to be the leading lawyears organization to support people for environment.
BELA became the member of IUCN (World Conservation Union), Environmental Law Allainces Worldwide (E-LAW) and South Asian Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE), Coalition of Environmental NGOs (CEN) to organize its activities. As a member of these organization BELA has a well-managed network.
Notable Tasks
In 1994, the candidates for the Dhaka City CorporationDhaka City Corporation
Dhaka City Corporation is the former self-governing corporation that is associated with the task of running the affairs of the city of Dhaka. The incorporated area is divided into several wards. Each ward has an elected ward commissioner. The mayor of the city is elected by popular vote every five...
Election, was unlawfully doing their promotion in Old Dhaka, by overruling the 1860's Environmental Law of Bangladesh. As a leading member of BELA, Rizwana Hasan made the charge to court against such unlawful acts; and the Court judged it as an unlawful act. And after then, Bangladesh Election Commission
Bangladesh Election Commission
The Bangladesh Election Commission is an independent constitutional body of the nation of Bangladesh that operates the legal functions of Election law in that South Asian county....
(EC) took initiative to stop promotion acts in elections which are harmful to environment.
Under the supervision of Rizwana Hasan, BELA started its war against the shipbreaking industry in Bangladesh. On behalf of BELA, Rizwana took the first judicial account against shipbreaking industry due to the unsafe environment of work for the workers, unhealthy workspace and environmentally unsafe garbage of this industry. Then took another three accounts demanding rights for the workers and the ban in Bangladesh of ships carrying poisonous substances. And in 2003 Court judged the rules to decision that, no ship will be allowed for shipbreaking without the 'Environmental Clearance'. And that was a notable achievement of BELA.
Beside that, BELA took initiative where environment is under threat, including housing by covering wetlands, unnecessary usage of polythene, cutting of hills, deforestion, shrimp cultivation, unlawful construction in St. Martin's Island
St. Martin's Island
St. Martin's Island is a small island in the northheast part of the Bay of Bengal, about 9 km south of the tip of the Cox's Bazar-Teknaf peninsula, and forming the southernmost part of Bangladesh. It is not a coral island in Bangladesh. It is about 8 km west of the northwest coast of...
etc.
In recent days, BELA opened a regular cell in their headquarter, from where they received lawful complaints regarding environment. Beside that, pollution due to vehicles, industrial pollution, river-pollution, wetlands preservation, commercial shrimp production -in all types of hazards to environment, BELA fights for justice in law. BELA also took the judicial compenstion account against Naiko after the Tengratila Explotion, in 2006.
Library
In the central office of BELA in Dhanmondi, there is a well organized library under supervision of a trained librarian. There are more than 4000 books, journals, reports, national and international mimeographs in this library. Beside these, there are newspaper cuttings regarding to environmental issues of several dailies organized in 18 different categories, since 1993. There is an open reading room, and the library is free for all.Publications
BELA published many books on Environmental Preservation and Law Enforcement for Environment. Some of the notables are:- Laws Regulating Environment in Bangladesh
- Law & Custom Forest in Bangladesh: Issues & Remedies
- Environmental Regulatory Regime
- Judicial Decisions on Environment in South Asia
- Trans-boundary Water Issues in South Asia
- International Rivers: Rights of the Riparian States
- River Pollution Concerns and Expectations
- The Role of Wildlife Preservation Act of Forest, Forest Dwellers
- International Law in Environment
Beside that, BELA published "BELA Newsletter" in English and "Bela Barta" (বেলা বার্তা) in Bangla, two weekly supplements of their recent activities and timeline.