Environment Clearance License in Bangladesh:
How to Obtain Licenses for Environmental Clearance in Bangladesh (Updated in 2025):
How to obtain an environment license in Bangladesh, the necessary paperwork, the time frame, and the cost are frequently asked by various entities and individuals. In accordance with the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act of 1995 (as revised in 2010), no industrial organization may be established without a certificate of environmental clearance from the Department of Environment (DoE).
This article will discuss how to obtain an environmental license, the whole licensing application procedure, the required paperwork, and the time and expense involved.
To comprehend how to receive environmental clearance certifications in Bangladesh, one must follow to the Bangladesh Environmental Conservation Act of 1995. In this article, we will discuss the Bangladeshi legislation pertaining to environmental clearance certifications and outline the step-by-step process for acquiring such certificates.
As stipulated by the Bangladesh Environmental Conservation Act of 1995, for Environment Clearance License in Bangladesh, environmental approval is required for all forms of industries and projects.
No industrial enterprise may be established without a Department of the Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) (DOE). Regarding air, noise, water, odor, and other environmental quality criteria, the industry or project must meet all of the requirements stated by the government of Bangladesh.
Such regulations are in addition to those outlined in the Factories Act of 1965, which regulates the interior atmosphere of factories and enterprises.
For the purpose of the issuance of the Environmental Clearance Certificate in Bangladesh, industrial units and projects shall be listed in the following four categories or types, taking into account their location and environmental impact one need to find out as to how to obtain the environment clearance certificate, the following category shall shed lights on it.
- GREEN
- ORANGE A
- ORANGE B
- RED
Time Frame for the relevant categories:
S.L | Category | Site Clearance | Environmental Clearance |
01. | Green | N/A | 15 days |
02. | Orange-A | 30 days | 15 days |
03. | Orange-B | 60 days | 30 days |
04. | Red | 60 days | 30 days |
The Green group consists of projects and industries that have no negative impact on the environment. For this type of project, neither an Initial Environmental Evaluation (IEE) nor an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is required.
The following documents are required for Green Category:
General details regarding the industrial unit or project.
Detailed explanation of both the basic components and the final result.
No objection certificate (NOC) issued by the local government.
ORANGE A CATEGORY
This category includes initiatives that generate trash that may have minor or severe environmental implications, but could be easily mitigated by taking the necessary steps.
Orange A, Category of Industrial Units Required Documents are as follows:
- General details regarding the industrial unit or project.
- Detailed explanation of both the basic components and the final result.
- No objection certificate (NOC) issued by the local government.
- A Process Flow chart
- A Design Plan (location of Effluent Treatment Plant).
- Effluent disposal system.
- Other essential details (if required).
- This category of projects and industries are ones that are anticipated to have negative environmental impacts that are not judged too severe and can be addressed without lingering negative effects. Mineral water, soft drinks, fish processing, etc. are examples.
The following documents are required for Orange B, Category of Industrial Units:
- A report on the planned industrial unit or project’s feasibility study.
- Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the planned industrial unit or project.
- the process flow diagram, the layout plan (indicating the location of the Effluent Treatment Plant), and the design.
- A report on the environmental management plan (EMP) for the existing industrial facility or project.
- No objection certificate (NOC) issued by the local government.
- Relocation and rehabilitation plan outline.
- A contingency plan for pollution reduction and negative environmental impact.
- Other essential details (if required).
In the Red Category
This category includes initiatives and industries that have the potential to have a large negative impact on the environment and must be properly managed or monitored.
The following documents are required for the Red Category of Industrial Units:
- A report on the planned industrial unit or project’s feasibility study.
- Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the planned industrial unit or project.
- Design of the process flow diagram and layout plan (indicating the location of the Effluent Treatment Plant).
- A report on the environmental management plan (EMP) for the existing industrial facility or project.
- A report on the environmental impact of the planned industrial unit or project.
- No objection certificate (NOC) issued by the local government.
- Relocation and rehabilitation plan outline.
- A contingency plan for pollution reduction and negative environmental impact.
- Other essential details (if required).
- Other Licenses Necessary for Your Business in Bangladesh
How to Obtain a Certificate of Environmental Clearance in Bangladesh
We will now discuss the step-by-step process for acquiring a Environment Clearance License in Bangladesh
Procedure for obtaining environment clearance certificate:
Step 1 | Complete the Prescribed Form for Environment Clearance License in Bangladesh
Different industries and manufacturers must determine which category they come under in order to determine which form must be filled out.
Step 2 | Organize the Files
The forms that correspond to your category will include a list of the papers that must be submitted with the application. It is preferable to retain a company attorney in Bangladesh who is up-to-date on the ever-changing document arrangement hierarchy.
Step 3 | Submit application and supplemental materials to the Department of the Environment (DOE).
The application can be submitted upon payment of the registration costs listed below.
Step 4 | Department of Energy Verification of Application and Supporting Documents
Upon submission of the Documents, the DOE must verify them; this may take some time; at this stage of the process, it is essential to maintain communication with the Department of Environment.
Step 5 | After verifying all documentation, an Inspection Officer from the department will conduct additional inspections.
Environmental Clearance Committee will hold a meeting at this stage (only for Orange-B and Red Category).
Step 7 | The authority will make a decision at the meeting.
Step 8 | If DOE is satisfied after completing the preceding stages, it will issue an environmental clearance certificate.
Government Fees for Obtaining a Certificate of Environmental Clearance
Deposit the Required Fees with the Bank of Bangladesh or the Government of Bangladesh Treasury Chalan in the name of the Director General.
Government fees are calculated in accordance with the total project investment. For example, if the project costs between BDT 1 and BDT 50 billion, the projected charge will range between BDT 1,500 and BDT 50,000. If it exceeds 50 billion, the anticipated fee will be BDT 100,000.
Following submission, the average processing period for the issuance of an environmental clearance license is between one and five months.
Renewal of Environment Clearance License in Bangladesh:
The validity time for Green Category Environmental Clearance Certificates shall be three years from the date of issuance, whereas the validity period for Orange A, Orange B, and Red certificates shall be one year. Each Environmental Clearance Certificate must be renewed at least 30 days prior to its expiration date.
To comprehend how to receive environmental clearance certifications in Bangladesh, one must follow to the Bangladesh Environmental Conservation Act of 1995. In this article, we will discuss the Bangladeshi legislation pertaining to environmental clearance certifications and outline the step-by-step process for acquiring such certificates.
Government Fee Schedule for Environment Clearance License in Bangladesh:
The Government fee for filling an application for Environment clearance certificate and its renewal under these Rules shall be deposited with the Bangladesh Bank or a Government Treasury by a Treasury Chalan. Furthermore, Treasury Chalan shall be deposited in favour of the Director General of Department of Environment account being No. 1 – 4541 – 0000 – 2681.
Fee Schedule
S.L | Investment Amount (BDT.) | Environment Clearance Fee. | Renewal Fee. |
01. | 01 (One) Lac to 5 (Five) Lac | 1500 | ¼ of the Environment Clearance Fee. |
02. | 5 (Five) Lac to 10 (Ten) Lac | 3,000 | ¼ of the Environment Clearance Fee. |
03. | 10 (Ten) Lac to 50 (Fifty) Lac | 5,000 | ¼ of the Environment Clearance Fee. |
04. | 50 (Fifty) Lac to 01 (One)Crore | 10,000 | ¼ of the Environment Clearance Fee. |
05. | 01 (One) Crore to 05 (Five) Crore | 20,000 | ¼ of the Environment Clearance Fee. |
06. | 05 (Five) Crore to 20 (Twenty) Crore | 40,000 | ¼ of the Environment Clearance Fee. |
07. | 20 (Twenty) Crore to 50 (Fifty) Crore | 80,000 | ¼ of the Environment Clearance Fee. |
08. | 50 (Fifty) Crore to 100 (One Hundred) Crore | 1,20,000 | ¼ of the Environment Clearance Fee. |
09. | 100 (One Hundred) Crore to 200 (Two Hundred) Crore | 2,00,000 | ¼ of the Environment Clearance Fee. |
10. | 200 (Two Hundred) Crore to 500 (Five Hundred) Crore | 3,00,000 | ¼ of the Environment Clearance Fee. |
11. | 500 (Five Hundred) Crore to 1000 (One Thousand) Crore | 4,00,000 | ¼ of the Environment Clearance Fee. |
12. | 1000 (One Thousand) Crore to Above | 5,00,000 | ¼ of the Environment Clearance Fee. |
Government Fee Schedule for Environment Clearance License in Bangladesh:
The Government fee for completing an application for Environment clearance certificate and its renewal under these Rules shall be deposited with the Bangladesh Bank or a Government Treasury by a Treasury Chalan. In addition, the Treasury Chalan needs to be placed in favor of the account that belongs to the Director General of the Department of Environment, which has the number 1-4541-0000-2681.
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