Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Water Resources, has called on the Muslim world to take a leadership role in achieving the “Three Zeros”—zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero net carbon emissions—through genuine social responsibility and ethical practices.
Speaking as the chief guest at the International Social Business Summit (ISBS) 2025: NGO Leadership for the Three Zeros in the Muslim World, held at Hotel Bengal Blueberry in Dhaka’s Gulshan area, Advisor Hasan emphasized the urgent need for action beyond rhetoric.
“What we need most is not just uttering values, but practicing them,” she said, urging a shift from verbal commitments to meaningful, value-driven initiatives.
In a passionate address, the Advisor warned against the dangers of ultra-capitalism, which she said has devastated natural resources and deepened social inequalities. “If we don’t correct our current models of operation, we won’t be able to save the planet. Many countries will go underwater by the end of this century, and entire civilizations may disappear.”
She underscored the need to re-evaluate global consumption patterns and distinguish between basic needs and excess. “We must redefine necessity versus overconsumption—and we must stop wars, permanently.”
Drawing from Islamic values, Rizwana Hasan noted that the concept of social business aligns closely with core Islamic teachings. “Islam calls for action, not just preaching. It rejects inequity, and social business is about earning to give back—not to accumulate wealth at the cost of others’ misery.”
She also criticized the silence of many Muslim-majority nations during global humanitarian crises, particularly the ongoing violence in Palestine. “Why do we see silence when innocent Palestinians are being killed? Brotherhood without moral courage is meaningless,” she said.
Advisor Hasan praised the Islamic institution of Zakat as a historically effective system for wealth redistribution, contrasting it with modern taxation systems that, she argued, often fail to prioritize the vulnerable. “Public funds increasingly go to mega projects, while the poor remain neglected.”
Calling for broader human unity and compassion, she concluded, “We are not supposed to hate or discriminate. We are meant to act with compassion, embrace diversity, and value all communities.”
The summit brought together prominent figures from the Muslim world, including: Prof. Dr. Halis Yunus Ersöz, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Türkiye; Prof. Dr. Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, Vice-Chancellor, North South University & Chairman, Board of Directors, Grameen Bank; Eyup Akbal, Secretary General, Union of NGOs of the Islamic World (UNIW), Türkiye & Chairman, Fuzul Savings Finance Inc; S M Rasheduzzaman, Member, High Advisory Board, UNIW & Chairman, SAWAB; Dr. M Abdul Aziz, Country Representative, IIIT & Director General, BIIT and Dr. Ali Afzal, Council Member, UNIW & Managing Director, Krishibid Group
The event served as a powerful platform to foster collaboration among Muslim nations in advancing global equity, sustainability, and social justice.