Environment, Forest and Climate Change Syeda Rizwana Hasan, has called for placing the environment at the heart of national politics. “The environment can no longer be treated as a secondary issue—it must be central to political decision-making,” she said.
Speaking as the chief guest at the “Road to Green Manifesto” dialogue held at the Department of Environment in Agargaon, Dhaka, the Advisor emphasized that environmental protection is a matter of public interest and national priority. “Political parties must be held accountable for the environmental promises made in their election manifestos,” she noted.
Hasan underscored that environmental protection is not merely a policy concern but a moral responsibility. “We must build a healthy, safe, and livable Bangladesh for future generations,” she said. While manifestos often contain ambitious pledges, she urged political actors to turn those words into meaningful action.
She also called on the youth—now a significant force in the electoral landscape—to press political leaders to deliver on their environmental commitments. “We must face the truth: climate change, river grabbing, deforestation, and hill-cutting are grave threats. If we want to survive, we can no longer afford to ignore the environment,” she warned.
Referring to issues such as stone extraction in Jaflong and the threatened Sonadia mangrove forest, the Advisor lamented the lack of political unity in environmental protection. “While there is broad political consensus on exploiting natural resources like stone, we see little alignment when it comes to preserving nature,” she said. Hasan stressed that true development cannot come at the cost of ecological destruction.
She also noted that despite the Ministry of Environment’s direct connection to pressing concerns—such as Dhaka’s air pollution, the crisis of wetlands, and threats to food and water security—it continues to receive inadequate funding. Citing Beijing’s efforts to improve air quality, she called for similar levels of commitment and investment in Bangladesh.
The dialogue—part of the Manifesto Talk 2025 series—focused on water, agriculture, food security, and climate change, and was jointly organized by Shocheton Foundation and several other civil society organizations. The event was attended by Mohammad Azaz, Administrator of Dhaka North City Corporation, along with representatives from various political parties.
Earlier in the day, Advisor Rizwana Hasan also addressed the Frugal Innovation Forum 2025 at BRAC CDM in Savar. She delivered the keynote speech during a session titled “Policy Perspective on Climate Adaptation in Agriculture, Food Security, and Livelihoods” and visited several exhibition stalls following a Q&A session.