The government of Bangladesh has proposed major amendments to strengthen laws protecting rivers, canals, and coastal areas. Under the draft National River Protection Commission (Amendment) Act 2026, illegal occupation of river land or obstruction of recovery operations will be treated as criminal offenses with doubled penalties. Unlawful extraction of sand, stones, or soil, as well as pollution or damage to navigability, could result in up to five years’ imprisonment and fines of up to 1.5 million taka. The draft also grants all rivers legal personhood and living entity status.

The proposed law aims to make the National River Protection Commission an independent statutory body with authority to investigate, inspect, and take legal action against river encroachment and pollution by any public or private entity. It would also serve as the legal guardian of rivers, canals, and coastal zones. Before any development project near rivers or canals, prior approval from the commission would be mandatory.

Environmental expert Sharif Jamil welcomed the initiative as a positive step for river protection but cautioned that the law’s effectiveness would depend on ensuring the commission’s independence and enforcement capacity.