Dhaka: Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Water Resources Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan emphasized the urgent need for afforestation and agricultural conservation to safeguard coastal areas. She highlighted the increasing complexity of coastal challenges, urging the implementation of strategic decisions with well-defined short- and medium-term goals.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Rizwana spoke as the chief guest at the two-day National Coastal Conference held at the Bangladesh Military Museum auditorium. She addressed the emergence of new disasters, degradation of natural resources and agricultural land, threats to food security, and the rise of poverty and water scarcity. She warned of intensifying crises like climate-induced displacement, microplastic pollution, and decreased carbon sequestration.
Rizwana pointed out that previous plans for coastal areas have been cancelled, yet the damage persists, with the dismantling of shrimp enclosures costing millions. She noted that the government ultimately bears these costs. She stressed the importance of protecting affected communities and avoiding unnecessary politicization of issues, which often harm innocent communities.
She cited problems such as unregulated tourism infrastructure and restricted local vessel movement in Saint Martin’s Island and other areas, leading to income loss for livelihood-dependent communities. Rizwana urged the necessity of providing alternative livelihoods for those impacted and mentioned ongoing initiatives by organizations like COAST and BRAC, with potential support from the Ministry of Agriculture.
Highlighting that a significant population resides in Bangladesh’s coastal regions, Rizwana stated that further materialization of climate risks would demand a robust institutional framework for coastal zone management, integrating water resources, river protection, transport, and agriculture.
The session, chaired by Gawhar Naeem Wara, Convener of the National Coastal Conference, and moderated by Nurul Alam Masud, Chief Executive of PRAN, featured special guests including Dr. Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture; Md. Enayet Ullah, Director General of the Bangladesh Water Development Board; Md. Zahidul Kabir, Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests; Dipak Elmer, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Switzerland in Dhaka; and Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Executive Director of COAST Trust.
The conference gathered over 300 representatives, researchers, students, and members of affected communities from 19 coastal districts, focusing on agriculture, environment, food security, fishing communities, informal workers, and disaster management.