Vision

  • Ensuring environmental protection through due processes of law.
  • Anthropocentric environmentalism that seeks conservation inclusive of the natural resource dependent poor.
  • Community empowerment and protection of natural resources and environmental rights in a just, equitable and gender-sensitive way.
  • Upholding the rights of people, particularly the poor and the women, to their environmental entitlements.

Mission

BELA considers itself an organization that:

  • Believes in and follows a rights-based approach to not only the environment but development in general;
  • Believes in and upholds principles of equity; and Strives to attain women’s rights and entitlements in environmental justice.
  • Developing awareness of environmental rights and entitlements as well as the capacity to make changes in environmental governance through awareness campaigns.
  • Training of various stakeholders, initiating and pursuing policy advocacy through multiple modes, and litigation to ensure environmental justice.

Objective

The objective of BELA is to promote environmental justice and contribute towards the development of a sound environmental jurisprudence.
  • Research and awareness raising campaigns
  • Seek administrative relief, utilize legal measures and give legal assistance to protect eco-system and rights of people
  • Mobilize and support community resistance
  • Develop networks with local, national, regional and international groups/bodies/agencies
  • Undertake legislative advocacy

Key Thematic Area

BELA focuses on the following three specific thematic areas:
  • Natural resources (land, forests, water, air, biodiversity) management
  • Pollution and Conservation
  • Climate justice, sustainable energy, and related environmental rights

Values and Cultures

When working to accomplish its visions and missions and when pursuing its strategies, BELA is committed to upholding the following values and principles:
  • To follow the principle of anthropocentric environmentalism (that is, to uphold the conservation of the environment and natural resources but not at the cost of the interest and livelihood of the poor or the affected community dependent on such natural resources).
  • To consider the special interest or vulnerability of excluded or marginalized communities such as fishers, forest dwellers, and marginalized farmers.
  • To uphold and promote the principles of ‘environmental justice’ as a constitutional value.
  • To promote transparent and participatory environmental governance.
  • To uphold the principles of equity and equality, including gender equality, while implementing the planned activities.

Key Strategies

BELA seeks to achieve its vision and mission by pursuing the following strategies:
  • Undertaking litigation and initiating other legal interventions (seeking administrative relief).
  • Raising public awareness and disseminating knowledge about the major environmental concerns and wrongs prevalent in Bangladesh.
  • Undertaking advocacy to help create a democratic and participatory environmental governance regime.
  • Engaging with the community concerned and the wider society in a more effective way.
  • Engaging with the government and its relevant agencies.
  • Working in partnership with other organizations, both local and international, working in the same area.