ASSIGNMENT

Course Tittle: Bangladesh Studies

Course Code: BDS 111

Submitted to: Md. Burhan Uddin

Department of Development Studies
Daffodil International University
Submitted By :
Name: MD. Nayeem Hossain
ID: 201-33-1094
Section: (B)
Department of Electrical &
Electronic Engineering
Date of Submission: 18 May, 2020
1. Define Environment, Environmental Degradation and
Climate change. Explore causes of environmental
degradation with Impacts.

Answer: Environment: The term environment has been

derived from the french word “environia” means to
surround. It refers to both abiotic (physical or non-living)
and biotic (living) environment.
Environment is surrounding atmosphere or condition for
existence. It is an essentially natural process or an outcome
of occurrence.
Environmental Degradation: Environmental degradation is
the deterioration of the environment through depletion of
resources such as air, water and soil the destruction of
ecosystems and the extinction of wildlife
Climate Change: Climate change is a change in the usual
weather found in a place In other words, a long-term
change in the earth's climate, especially a change due to an
increase in the average atmospheric temperature.
Causes of Environmental Degradation:
(i) Social Factor:
Huge Population: Population impacts on the
environment primarily through the use of natural
resources and production of wastes and are
associated with environmental stresses like loss of
biodiversity, air and water pollution and increased
pressure on arable land.
 World Population Growth

Year World Population

1800 1 Billion

1950 2.5 Billion

2000 6 Billion

2011 7 Billion

Poverty: Poverty is said to be the cause and effect

of environmental degradation. When people do not
have the basic necessities for
Survival. For instance, they may be starving for
clean water, proper housing, sufficient clothing or
medicines and be struggling to stay alive.

Urbanization: Lack of opportunities for gainful

employment in villages and the ecological stresses
are leading to an ever-increasing movement of poor
families to towns. Megacities and unplanned
urbanization are emerging and urban slums are
expanding.
(ii) Economic Factors:
Market Failure: Market failure means that markets
fail to allocate resources efficiently. To a large extent,
environmental degradation is the result of market
failure, that is, the non-existent or poorly functioning
markets for environmental goods and services. Lack
of well-defined property rights may be one of the
reasons for such market failure. On the other hand,
Market distortions created by price controls and
subsidies may aggravate the achievement of
environmental objectives.

Impacts of Agricultural Development:

Agricultural development contributes to soil erosion,
land salination and loss of nutrients. For example, the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
identifies agriculture as the primary source of water
pollution. Shifting cultivation has also been an
important cause of land degradation. Leaching from
extensive use of pesticides and fertilizers is an
important source of contamination of water bodies.
Intensive agriculture and irrigation contribute to land
degradation also.

Transport Activities: Transport activities have a

wide variety of effects on the environment such as air
pollution, noise from road traffic and oil spills from
marine shipping. The World Health Organization
(WHO) says vehicular air pollution is a major cause
of respiratory distress in urban Bangladesh. World
Bank 2007 estimated about 15 000 premature deaths
 due to poor air quality in Dhaka city. The total
population of registered motorized vehicles in
Bangladesh stands at 1.75 million.

Economic Development: The level and pattern of

economic development affects the nature of
environmental problems. Especially
Industrialization based economic development has
resulted in environmental degradation. The
manufacturing technology adopted by the industries
has played load on the environment through
intensive resource and energy use which resulted in
the water, air and land contamination, and
degradation of natural eco systems.
(iii) Political & Administrative Factor: Lack of
visionary leadership quality, traditional policy
making role of politicians and improper practice of
environmental policy which approved by the
government of Bangladesh are responsible for
environmental degradation. As well as the
administrative reasons are: (1) Lack of expansion of
regulatory activity and growing complexity.
(2) Lack of growing environmental awareness
(3) Lack of growing impact of environmental law
(4) Lack of changing environmental problems
(5) Lack of changing patterns of public
administration

(iv) Environmental Factors:

 Water & Air Pollution: Water and air pollution are
unfortunately the common causes of environmental
degradation. Pollution introduces contaminants
into the environment that can maim or even kill plant
and animal species. The two often go hand in hand.
Water, air and soil pollution, along with other
environmental factors, contribute to 40 percent of
deaths worldwide each year.

Acid Rain: Acid rain occurs when sulfur dioxide

SO2 from coal plant emissions combines with
moisture present in the air. A chemical reaction
creates this acid rainfall. Acid rain can acidify and
pollute lakes and streams. It causes similar effects to
the soil. Acid rain causes acidification of lakes and
streams and contributes to the damage of trees at high
elevations and many sensitive forest soils.

2. Describe the nature of Bangladesh Economy. Explain the

economic impacts and prospects after COVID-19.

Answer: Nature of Bangladesh Economy: It’s a mixed

economy. Patronizing free market economy. Making open
border relationship with the rest of the world. The Private
sector has developed effectively. Highly depending on the
national and international loan. Depended on development
actors, organizations and countries. Emphasizing on foreign
direct investment (FDI). Depended on Foreign Remittance
and Labor market. Majority export income comes from
 RMG Industry. Public-Private partnership newly
introduced.

Bangladesh will fall into a really difficult situation if the

country remains locked down for a longer period. Here, a
huge number of people live from hand to mouth. Consistent
high growth has been unable to create sufficient jobs in the
economy. Due to inequality of income and asset
distribution, the advantages of higher GDP growth is not
evident in society. So, we may have to face an economic
slowdown in the short term while there might be a
recession in the long term.

3. What are main causes of urbanization? Explain it with a

Model and Recommend some measures to reduce
urbanization problems in Bangladesh.

Answer: The main cause of urbanization in Bangladesh

are: 1. Economic benefits: growth of GDP, higher
productivity, better income etc.
2. Demographic benefits: lowering of age at marriage,
reduction of fertility
rate.
3. Socio-cultural benefits: modernization
4. Political benefits: Women empowerment, democracy etc.
5. Improved access to information technology.
6. Infrastructural development benefits: Improvement of
communication and
transportation
 7. Socio-economic development: Employment
opportunities, Increase literacy
rate, improvement in the quality of education, and better
health indicators.

BARD: (The Comilla Model)

Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD) or
The Comilla Model was a rural development program
launched in 1959 by Akhter Hameed Khan in Comilla. The
Features of the Comilla Model:
 The promotion of development of various institutions,
both public and private, and establishing a system of
interrelationships between them;
 Involvement of public and private sectors in the rural
development.
 Development of leadership in every village, including
managers, model farmers, women organizers, youth
leaders to sustain the development.
 Development of three basic infrastructures.
 Priority on decentralized and coordinated rural
administration.
 Ensure education, organization and discipline.
 Focus on economic planning and technology.
If we reduce the urbanization problems in Bangladesh, we have
to meet the challenges by following steps:
1. Decentralization
2. Rural Entrepreneurship
3. Ensuring the lodging for the urbanized people
4. Enhancement of opportunities
5. Focus on good governance
6. Improving City Governance: The Principal Strategy
7. Decentralization of Functions and Responsibilities
8. Good Urban Planning and Sound Incentives
9. Developing a Sound Real Estate Market
In implementing the above ideas, at least one thing will be
essentially required and
this is quality governance. It implies adequate
1. Transparency 2. accountability 3. responsiveness 4.
decentralization 5.
participation 6. coordination 7. authority and control 8. Planning
and
productivity, efficiency and leadership.

4. Compare the contributions of Industrial sector in the

economy of Bangladesh. What change could happen in the
Industrial Sector by this Lock-down situation and After
CORONA Pandemic?
Answer: Industrial Sector has given the opportunity of
employment to millions of unemployed, especially
innumerable uneducated women of the country.
The industrial sector, whose contribution to the GDP is
33.71 percent, grew 11.99 percent against 10.22 percent in
fiscal 2016-17.
Though, there was a decrease in growth of wholesale and
retail trade, transport and communication, financial
intermediation, education, health and social work sectors.

The garment sector is one of our bodies in the

industrial sector. All the garment factories have been shut
down in this lockdown and all export activities have been
stopped and several lakh workers are now unemployed. So,
the Corona Pandemic will see the state of the rest of the
country's industries.