Legal Obligations of Bangladesh Government and International Community to address the Environmental Degradation caused by Rohingya Influx

Abstract

This study is an exploration of the environmental repercussions caused by the influx of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Despite the welcoming endeavors of Bangladesh towards the refugees, there have been a number of economic, social and environmental consequences to be sustained in the region. The basic necessities of the refugees have resulted in a sudden increase in the use of the natural resources and the lack of any alternative means to procure these commodities has resulted in noticeable degradation of the environment. The cardinal goal of the paper is however the assessment of the respective roles of Bangladesh and the international community at large for the protection and conservation of the environment in the concerned areas of Cox’s Bazar and the Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary (TWS). For that purpose, the concerned domestic laws of Bangladesh has been analyzed along with the relevant international agreements and principles that govern the responsibility of the international community for environmental protection.