Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources, said that the environment can no longer be treated as a ‘secondary’ issue it must be brought to the center of politics. She emphasized that environmental protection is a matter of public interest and national priority. Political parties must be held accountable to the people for implementing the environmental commitments made in their manifestos.
She made these remarks while addressing the “Road to Green Manifesto” dialogue as the chief guest at the Department of Environment in Agargaon, Dhaka.
The Advisor stressed that environmental protection is no longer just a matter of policy—it is a moral obligation. “We must build a healthy, safe, and livable Bangladesh for the next generation,” she said. While manifestos often contain lofty promises about protecting the environment, she called for those promises to be reflected in real action. She highlighted that the youth, now a major force in the electoral landscape, must press political leaders to fulfill their environmental pledges.
“We must speak the truth—climate change, river grabbing, deforestation, and hill-cutting are looming threats, and we can no longer ignore the environment if we want to survive,” she warned.
Speaking about stone extraction in Jaflong and the protection of the Sonadia mangrove forest, the Advisor noted the absence of political unity in environmental protection, despite strong cross-party consensus when it comes to stone extraction. “Destroying nature cannot bring sustainable development,” she cautioned. She also pointed out that the government could significantly boost revenue through ecotourism—yet that potential remains overlooked.
Advisor Rizwana Hasan lamented the consistent underfunding of the Ministry of Environment in the national budget, despite its direct connection to critical issues like air pollution in Dhaka, the crisis of water bodies, and food and water security. She referenced Beijing’s success in improving air quality, calling for similar investment and commitment from Bangladesh.
The dialogue, titled Manifesto Talk 2025 and focusing on water, agriculture, food security, and climate change, was organized jointly by Shocheton Foundation and other civil society organizations. It was attended by the Administrator of Dhaka North City Corporation, Mohammad Azaz, as well as representatives of various political parties.
Earlier in the day, the Advisor also spoke at the Frugal Innovation Forum 2025 held at BRAC CDM, Savar, as the keynote speaker in the session titled “Policy Perspective on Climate Adaptation in Agriculture, Food Security, and Livelihoods.” She participated in the Q&A session and visited exhibition stalls.