Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources, Bangladesh, today urged global stakeholders to embrace nature-based solutions while holding developed countries accountable for their climate responsibilities. Delivering a virtual address today from Dhaka at the Meghna Knowledge Forum II (MKF II) in Bangkok, Thailand, she said, “The development discourse of the globe has to change. It has to be less hostile, less wealth-driven, and more nature-centric.”
The forum, themed “Building Community and Ecosystem Resilience to Climate Change,” resonated with Advisor Rizwana’s message of environmental justice, regional cooperation, and ecological rights.
Emphasizing the deep-rooted relationship between rivers and Bangladesh’s identity, she remarked, “Bangladesh is a country often defined by its rivers. River ecosystems make us who we are as Bangladeshis. A river is something that’s totally inseparable from our existence and entities.”
She called for stronger regional collaboration with neighboring countries—Nepal, India, and China—on transboundary river management. Noting that all four major river basins of Bangladesh are shared, she stressed the urgency of moving beyond national egos and towards cooperative ecosystem governance.
A key highlight of her speech was the recognition of the “rights of rivers.” She stated, “We should protect our rivers not only for our survival but also by recognizing that rivers and river systems have inherent rights.” She praised the growing trend of courts in various countries acknowledging these rights and urged international forums like MKF II to create space for such crucial discussions.
Speaking with heartfelt connection, Rizwana described the Haor ecosystem—a vast wetland region in northeast Bangladesh where she hails from—as a unique ecological and economic asset. Supporting millions of livelihoods through agriculture, fishing, and tourism, the Haor also serves as a critical habitat for migratory birds and native flora. However, she warned of increasing threats from pollution, sand mining, and unregulated development, compounded by frequent flash floods and the absence of a transboundary early warning system.
She appealed to the youth of South Asia to help bridge information gaps, especially in developing local early warning mechanisms that could prevent disaster and protect lives and livelihoods.
Advisor Rizwana also spotlighted Bangladesh’s regional leadership, being the first South Asian country to accede to the UN Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes. Yet, she expressed concern that regional bodies like SAARC still fail to treat rivers as multilateral concerns, often reducing them to bilateral negotiations.
In closing, she emphasized, “When governments struggle to agree on ecosystem management, forums like this must elevate community voices and knowledge. The path to climate resilience lies in cooperation, not competition.”
She thanked the Asian Institute of Technology, South Asian University, and the knowledge partners for organizing MKF II and creating a space where communities, scholars, and governments can reimagine climate action rooted in justice and sustainability.
The notable speakers at the event included Indra Mani Pandey, Secretary General, Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC); Dr. Pai-Chi Li, President, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand; Dr. Dindo Campilan, Regional Director, IUCN Asia & Hub Director for Oceania; Raquibul Amin, Head, Programme Management, Science and Strategy Group, IUCN Asia; Faiyaz Murshid Kazi, Ambassador of Bangladesh, Kingdom of Thailand; Vishwa Ranjan Sinha, Senior Programme Officer, Water and Wetlands, South Asia, IUCN Asia, Regional Office, Thailand; John Samuel, Regional Director, Oxfam Asia; Dr. Medha Bisht, Associate Professor, Department of International Relations, South Asian University.