Dhaka: Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today stressed the need for public awareness for sustainable development, saying that citizens must adopt lifestyle changes and reduce overconsumption. "We must learn from our past mistakes and chart the course for our future," she said while addressing the "Bangladesh Sustainability Conclave 2025" at the Dhaka North City Corporation Auditorium in the capital, according to a press release.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Rizwana, who also serves as the adviser of the ministry of Water Resources, emphasized the need for increased investment in food security, clean air, and safe water. She highlighted the urgency of formulating and implementing appropriate policies in these critical areas. Rizwana stated that Bangladesh must transform into a beautiful, fertile, safe, and green country, which requires a move towards sustainability.
Highlighting the importance of people's voices in environmental protection, Rizwana pointed to the incident of indiscriminate white stone extraction as a clear example of the urgency. She continued that the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers must be reduced, polythene shopping bags phased out, and the reckless use of hills and forests in the name of development must be stopped.
Rizwana also mentioned that proposals for tax incentives will be placed before the government to encourage eco-friendly initiatives. She emphasized that while there are many policies in place, the most important task now is their effective implementation. The event was presided over by Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Mohammad Azaz.
Other speakers at the event included First Secretary and Deputy Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka Nayoka Martinez-B¤ckstr¶m, Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh Farah Kabir, Managing Director and CEO of Mutual Trust Bank (MTB) Syed Mahbubur Rahman, Chairman of Hatil Selim H. Rahman, Head of Influencing, Communications, Advocacy and Media at Oxfam in Bangladesh Md. Shariful Islam, and Executive Director of Mission Green Bangladesh Ahsan Rony.