Bangladesh Activist Links Ecology & Justice

Ethnobotanist Pavel Partha of Bangladesh Resource Center for Indigenous Knowledge (BARCIK) argues that Bangladesh’s environmental policies fail to recognize the inseparable link between ecological and social impacts. For nearly two decades, Partha has researched plant diversity alongside the knowledge of Indigenous communities, finding their traditional ecological understanding to be a rigorous science often overlooked by mainstream approaches.

He observed that environmental destruction not only erases ecosystems but also Indigenous languages, cultural practices, and vital traditional knowledge. Partha’s activism began with a 2024 protest against the destruction of Panthakunja Park in Dhaka, where he meticulously documented the affected plant and animal life.

He believes current environmental governance prioritizes conservation without acknowledging the reciprocal relationship between humans and nature, a concept rooted in the Bangla word for ecology, protibesh, meaning “neighbor.” Partha fears the loss of biodiversity is causing a parallel loss of cultural heritage and intangible knowledge. He hopes to strengthen movements for ecological justice by integrating Indigenous knowledge into policy and education.