Environmental protection must be the foremost consideration when approving large-scale development projects, emphasized Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser on Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Speaking at the opening of the 4th International Conference on Urban and Regional Planning (ICURP) 2025, hosted by the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) at the University of Dhaka, Hasan asserted, “Objections from the Ministry of Environment are not resistance, but necessary interventions for sustainable development.”
“There is no alternative to bringing every inch of the country’s land under a comprehensive planning framework,” she stated as the keynote speaker.
Hasan stressed that laws alone are insufficient, calling for a fundamental shift in values and perspectives. She urged all government ministries to adopt environmentally responsible practices. “For housing projects, the Ministry of Agriculture’s input is crucial. Similarly, all sectors must assess the environmental and social impacts of urban plans,” she added.
Acknowledging institutional limitations, Hasan noted, “Authorities like RAJUK cannot address these challenges alone. Every relevant institution must be empowered, and active local participation is vital.”
She also highlighted the severe threat to biodiversity from unplanned development and demanded accountability for those financing and profiting from hill-cutting, not just the workers.
The event was attended by Adilur Rahman Khan, Adviser to the Ministry of Housing and Public Works; Md. Nazrul Islam, Secretary of the same ministry; Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat; Professor Dr. Md. Rezaul Karim, Vice Chancellor of Khulna University; and BIP General Secretary and ICURP 2025 Convener, Planner Sheikh Muhammad Mehedi Ahsan.