The High Court has ordered Bangladesh’s Department of Environment to publicly disclose names of polluting establishments, striking down a 2022 secrecy decision and strengthening environmental transparency and accountability.
In a landmark ruling for environmental transparency in Bangladesh, the High Court on Tuesday directed the Department of Environment (DoE), the country’s key environmental regulatory authority, to publish in the media the names and identities of establishments found responsible for polluting the environment after legal action has been taken against them.
The court also declared illegal a 2022 decision by the DoE that barred disclosure of the names of polluting establishments, saying the move had no lawful authority.
The High Court bench comprising Justice Farid Ahmed and Justice Syed Mohammed Tazrul Hossain delivered the verdict following a writ petition filed by rights organisation Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB), which challenged the legality of the DoE’s decision.
According to the petition, the DoE in April 2022 adopted an internal decision not to reveal the names of industries and establishments penalised for environmental violations, reportedly to protect their reputation. The DoE had argued that disclosure could damage business reputations.
On June 13, 2022, after a preliminary hearing, the High Court issued a rule asking the government to explain why the decision should not be declared unlawful and why it should not be directed to disclose the names of polluters. Following a series of hearings in November and December 2025, the court delivered its final judgment on Tuesday.
Senior Advocate Manzill Murshid appeared for HRPB during the hearing, while Advocate Muntasir Uddin represented the Department of Environment.
Environmental activists welcomed the ruling, saying public disclosure can serve as a strong deterrent against industrial pollution in a country grappling with severe air, water and soil contamination.
Sohanur Rahman, Executive Coordinator of YouthNet Global, said the verdict marks a significant step toward accountability.
“This judgment reinforces the public’s right to know who is damaging our environment. Transparency is essential to prevent repeat offences and to ensure that polluters cannot hide behind institutional secrecy,” he said.
Legal experts believe the ruling will compel regulatory authorities to adopt a more open and transparent approach in enforcing environmental laws and may set an important precedent for environmental governance in Bangladesh.
