The survey titled 'Environmental Protection Expenditure Survey 2005' said, "The environment is emerging as an important issue throughout the world. In Bangladesh, industries/establishments are not yet fully conscious about the problem. Government monitoring and supervision system is not very extensive."

The BBS for the first time carried out such a survey, assisted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The survey focussed on environment protection system in industrial units and their expenditure for this. The BBS initially selected 900 industrial units and establishments across the country for the survey but 605 of them finally took part in it, most of them in Dhaka and Chittagong.

The industries and establishments covered by the survey included agricultural, manufacturing, electricity, gas, transport, hotel and health service units.

The survey report said 55.4 percent of the industrial units and establishments have waste management system while 62.1 percent of them don't have waste recycling system. Condition of the units in health, manufacturing and construction sectors are most acute with 67.5, 64.8 and 60 percent of them having no such facilities.

As regards environmental regulations, 48.6 percent industrial units and establishments comply with them and 40.2 percent do not. In agriculture sector, 84.8 percent units do not comply with the regulations while 60 percent of them in construction sector and 58.1 percent of hotels and restaurants do not follow the regulations.

The report also pointed out that only 10 percent industrial units and establishments have ISO certificates while 75 percent of them do not have. Besides, 78 percent manufacturing units lacks ISO certificates.

On environmental damage different sectors are causing, the report said crop sub-sector is almost pollution free and in the non-crop sector, particularly in fisheries and poultry establishments, pollution occurs in a small way.

Readymade garment factories are major violators of environmental regulations. While some of them have dust control device, their washing plants are polluting nearby water bodies. Besides, extras and cuttings of cloth that are sold out by the garment factories often create water pollution and stagnation particularly when dumped in nearby water bodies.

Tannery industries also cause great environmental damage. The toxic chemicals used in tannery factories pollute nearby water bodies. Re-rolling mills also use toxic chemicals which, when channelled to adjacent water bodies. pollute water. The mills also cause sound pollution.

Pharmaceuticals and rubber industries, specially smaller ones, pollute air through offensive smell.

Chemicals used in paper and pulp industries as well as in match factories greatly pollute water bodies. Motor vehicles are another major polluter with their hydraulic horns and emission of gases causing sound and air pollution.

Hospitals and clinics dump large volumes of wastes including solid and hazardous medical wastes that cause serious air and water pollution. A small number of them however have pollution control system, the report mentioned.