New ordinance introduces two-year jail term to safeguard haors and wetlands

The President has promulgated the Bangladesh Haor and Wetland Conservation Ordinance, 2026, introducing tough penalties—including up to two years’ imprisonment or fines of up to Tk10 lakh—to prevent the destruction and misuse of the country’s haors and wetlands.

The ordinance was issued last evening by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Ministry of Law.

Under the new law, violation of any order or directive will be punishable by a maximum of two years in prison or a fine of Tk10 lakh, or both. Breaching protection orders will attract the same penalty. All offences under the ordinance have been declared cognisable, non-bailable and non-compoundable.

Violating restrictions in protected haor and wetland areas will carry a punishment of up to two years’ imprisonment or a fine of Tk5 lakh, or both. The same penalty will apply to extracting or using water in ways that harm aquifers, aquatic life or vegetation.

Illegal occupation, land filling, unauthorised excavation or conversion of haors, wetlands or sandbanks will be punishable by up to two years in jail or a fine of Tk10 lakh. Similar punishment has been prescribed for constructing infrastructure or carrying out activities that obstruct the natural flow of water.

For polluting water, soil or the surrounding environment, the ordinance provides for up to two years’ imprisonment or a fine of Tk2 lakh, or both.

The law mandates the preparation of an official nationwide list of haors and wetlands. Based on information submitted by district administrators, the government will publish the list through gazette notification, which may be updated from time to time.

It also requires the concerned department to formulate and regularly update a master plan for the protection, conservation, development and integrated management of haors and wetlands, in line with existing government policies and strategic plans.

The government has been authorised to declare any haor or wetland a protected area, following consultation with relevant authorities, organisations and stakeholders. Before undertaking any development project in such areas, approval from the Haor and Wetland Development Department will be mandatory, and no project may proceed without following this procedure.

If the ecosystem of any haor or wetland is damaged by the actions of an individual or organisation, the Director General may assess the extent of damage, order compensation and, if necessary, mandate corrective measures.

The ordinance specifies several offences and penalties, including extracting soil, sand, stones or other natural resources without permission, which will be punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment or a fine of Tk10 lakh. Fishing using prohibited nets, electric shocks, poison bait or toxic substances will carry the same punishment.

Harvesting fish or aquatic resources in a manner that disrupts reproduction or production will be punishable by one year’s imprisonment or a fine of Tk5 lakh. Hunting migratory birds or protected aquatic animals, destroying wet forests or sandbanks, and damaging animal habitats will be punishable by up to two years in prison or a fine of Tk5 lakh, or both.