Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan spoke at a discussion held at the Department of Environment (DoE) auditorium in Dhaka today. Photo: PID

 
DHAKA, June 1, 2025 (BSS) - Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today said every citizen of Bangladesh must become environmentally cautious. 
 
“Roads, flyovers, and electricity cannot be considered the only basic needs of life. If the air and water are polluted, electricity alone cannot ensure well-being. What will you do with electricity if the air you breathe causes lung cancer? What will be with good roads if we don’t have enough trees to purify the air?” she questioned.

 
The environment adviser made the remarks in a discussion on “Reforms in Environmental Governance: Current Context and Future Challenges” at the Department of Environment (DoE) auditorium here today marking the World Environment Day.
 
Rizwana stressed the inclusion of environmental education into the national curriculum, mainstreaming the environmental issue in the activities of all ministries, and giving emphasis on environmental studies and public awareness.
 
“Development without environmental protection is not sustainable. We must pursue development keeping harmony with the nature,” she added.
 
Rizwana called for the urgent recruitment in the vacant posts of DoE, noting that project preparation takes time and thus outsourcing is necessary in certain areas. 
 

Expressing disappointment over budget constraints, she said, “We are among the lowest-budgeted ministries. With such limited resources, it is impossible to carry out effective monitoring, enforcement, and restoration. Once nature is destroyed, it requires significantly more investment to restore it.”
 
Referring to challenges such as closing illegal brick kilns, managing human-elephant conflict, installing CCTV, and other conservation efforts, the adviser highlighted the pressing need to fill vacant posts and reform land and infrastructure-related laws.
 
“To strengthen enforcement, we must allocate funds for night patrols and introduce technology-based online monitoring systems,” she said. 
 
Rizwana underscored the importance of strengthening the environmental clearance and monitoring system saying “It is unfortunate that our legal team cannot act even when power connections are cut. How can someone run a business without an environmental clearance?”
 
Chaired by DoE Director General Dr. Md. Kamruzzaman, the meeting was addressed, among others, by Dr Fahmida Khanom, Additional Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Tanvir Ahmed, Professor at BUET; Dr Khondaker Rashidul Huq, former DoE Director General; Mukit Majumdar Babu, Chairman of Prakriti o Jibon Foundation; Abu Hasnat Md. Maksud Sinha, Executive Director of Waste Concern; Professor Nur Mohammad Talukder, President of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA); and Bareesh Hasan Chowdhury, Campaign Coordinator of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA).

DoE Director Masud Iqbal Md. Shamim presented a keynote paper at the event.