Khairul Alam; Dbarta24 – Bangladesh has ranked near the bottom of the global Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2026, placing 175th among 177 countries, according to a report prepared by researchers from Yale and Columbia universities in the United States.
Bangladesh scored just 23.46 points in the latest index, highlighting serious shortcomings in environmental protection, public health, ecosystem management and climate action.
The EPI evaluates countries based on the effectiveness of their environmental policies and the progress they have made in protecting human health and natural ecosystems. The 2026 index was developed by researchers at Yale and Columbia universities with support from the McCall MacBain Foundation.
Bangladesh Nears the Bottom of Global Ranking
The EPI assesses environmental performance across three broad areas: environmental health, ecosystem vitality and climate change.
These areas are measured through 47 indicators, including air quality, drinking water and sanitation, waste management, biodiversity and habitat protection, aquatic ecosystems and efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
With a score of 23.46, Bangladesh remains far behind the level considered necessary for effective environmental protection.
The country’s poor ranking also reflects persistent challenges such as air pollution, inadequate waste management, unplanned urbanisation, ecosystem degradation and weak enforcement of environmental regulations.
Bangladesh Performs Poorly in South Asia
Bangladesh is also among the weakest performers in South Asia.
Bhutan leads the region, ranking 52nd globally with a score of 47.74. Sri Lanka follows at 94th, while Nepal ranks 128th, Afghanistan 135th, Pakistan 157th and the Maldives 171st.
India ranks at the very bottom of the South Asian group, placing 176th globally with a score of 22.46.
Bangladesh, at 175th, is therefore only one place above India in the global ranking.
Experts say the region’s environmental performance is being undermined by rapid economic development without adequate environmental safeguards, rising air pollution, poorly planned urban expansion and ineffective plastic waste management.
European Countries Dominate the Top
European countries dominate the top of the EPI 2026 ranking.
Estonia leads the global index with a score of 74.79, followed by Luxembourg with 74.24 and the United Kingdom with 71.51.
The remaining countries in the top 10 are Finland, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Norway, Sweden and Austria.
At the opposite end of the ranking, Laos, India, Bangladesh, Mali and Vietnam occupy the bottom five positions.
The United States ranks 27th with a score of 58.54, while China stands at 129th with 33.88.
Experts Point to Lack of Long-Term Planning
Environmental activists have linked Bangladesh’s poor performance to widespread pollution and weaknesses in environmental governance.
Sharif Jamil, secretary general of environmental organisation Dhara and a former general secretary of the Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), said the country’s position in the global index accurately reflects the environmental situation.
According to Jamil, Bangladesh’s water, air and soil are suffering from severe pollution, while long-term, unplanned and poorly assessed industrialisation has imposed a heavy cost on the population.
He also criticised the gap between government commitments and their implementation.
Jamil said Bangladesh needs long-term, integrated and science-based environmental planning, rather than short-term decisions that may create additional problems.
He cited the restoration of encroached canals as an example, arguing that simply excavating canals without first recovering their occupied sections can leave them fragmented into isolated water bodies.
Stronger Enforcement Urged
Jamil further argued that environmental protection and industrial development should not be treated as conflicting objectives.
He called for an end to what he described as a misconception among some policymakers that environmental conservation must come at the expense of industrialisation.
According to him, Bangladesh urgently needs stronger enforcement of environmental laws and science-based planning if it is to reverse its poor standing in international environmental assessments.
The EPI 2026 ranking underscores the scale of the challenge facing Bangladesh, particularly as pollution, urbanisation, waste management and climate pressures continue to affect the country’s environment and public health.