Dhaka: Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has expressed a strong interest in leveraging Turkish expertise for forest restoration, particularly in regions affected by human-wildlife conflict. During a meeting with Ramis Sen, the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkiye, at her office in Pani Bhaban, Rizwana Hasan, who also advises on water resources, highlighted the urgent need for restoring forest ecosystems in Bangladesh.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Rizwana Hasan referred to a recent tragic incident involving elephant deaths due to habitat loss and food scarcity, underscoring the importance of targeted restoration efforts. The meeting focused on exploring areas of bilateral cooperation, especially in environmental conservation, sustainable tourism, and development initiatives. Rizwana emphasized the need for technical support in planting suitable tree species and developing nature-centric tourism strategies.
She shared her vision for establishing eco-tourism destinations, including a master plan for the picturesque Sylhet region, designed to minimize ecological disruption. Ambassador Sen acknowledged Bangladesh’s conservation priorities and highlighted the proactive role of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), which operates an office in Dhaka. He expressed TIKA’s readiness to support medium-scale collaborative projects across various sectors.
Both sides discussed the potential for developing sustainable tourism in Bangladesh, drawing on Turkey’s experience in nature-based tourism. The envoy assured that he would facilitate communication between TIKA and the Adviser’s office to identify concrete project opportunities and connect her with relevant Turkish departments for further dialogue.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to accelerate meaningful collaboration in forest restoration and eco-tourism, ensuring swift and impactful implementation of joint initiatives. Merve Ozcelik, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of the Republic of Turkiye, and senior officials from the ministry were also present at the occasion.