United News of Bangladesh

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Saturday stressed the need to ensure the protection of environmental human rights defenders and bring their safety under a legal framework. “Environmental defenders around the world are facing killings and violence, an issue that the United Nations has highlighted as highly significant and Bangladesh law should also reflect this concern,” she at the National Consultation on the Draft National Human Rights Commission Ordinance, 2025at a hotel in Dhaka. .Rizwana  said while proposed National Human Rights Commission Ordinance, 2025 is a well-drafted and comprehensive piece of legislation  encompassing investigation, recommendation, compensation, training, arbitration, and mediation its success will depend on how effectively the Commission is empowered and capacitated.  “Just putting people in the chair will not be enough,” she cautioned. “We must orient them with the soft values of human rights, alongside the institutional and legal mechanisms necessary for enforcement,” she said. Rizwana calls for stronger international support on climate action, energy transition Referring to the judiciary’s role in addressing rights violations, she emphasised the need for stronger coordination between the judiciary and the human rights bodies. Despite important directions from the courts, a sense of helplessness sometimes persists in ensuring enforcement, she added. The Environment Adviser said the commission’s recommendations should carry both moral and legal weight. “Moral force is vital in a country like Bangladesh, but there must also be enforceable mechanisms, particularly for arbitration and mediation outcomes.” Highlighting areas for improvement in the draft, Rizwana suggested expanding the definition of “person” to explicitly include government agencies and law enforcement bodies, which she said is critical for ensuring accountability. She also proposed the establishment of a panel of lawyers within the Commission to strengthen its investigative and advisory capacity, as well as regular evaluation of its performance. She further noted that the new Human Rights Commission law should complement other proposed commissions  such as those on police reform, women’s rights, enforced disappearances, and media freedom to create a coherent and reinforcing legal ecosystem for human rights protection. Dr. Asif Nazrul, Adviser, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs; Adilur Rahman Khan, Adviser, Ministry of Housing and Public Works; Md. Asaduzzaman, Attorney General for Bangladesh; Reto Siegfried Renggli, Ambassador, Embassy of Switzerland to Bangladesh; Anders B. Karlsen, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Denmark to Bangladesh; Stefan Liller, UNDP Bangladesh, among others, spoke at the event. The consultation was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Law, representatives from the United Nations, development partners, human rights organizations, and members of civil society.

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Tuesday stressed the need for ensuring accountability, coordination and active participation of young people in climate adaptation initiatives. “Youth representatives must be included in monitoring mechanisms for infrastructure and water-related projects, including those undertaken by the Water Development Board,” Rizwana said during a meeting with a high-level Unicef Bangladesh delegation led by Country Representative Rana Flowers at the Bangladesh Secretariat. She also underscored the importance of adopting safe and practical alternatives, such as advanced technologies, in place of incineration for wastewater management and medical waste disposal. The meeting emphasised strengthening joint efforts to tackle the climate crisis through education, engagement of the social sector and increased youth participation. Highlighting the growing risks climate change poses to children and adolescents, such as floods, malnutrition and disrupted education, Rana Flowers reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to placing young people at the heart of climate solutions. She proposed expanding youth consultations across districts to gather insights from the grassroots and foster ownership. She further suggested creating a structured mechanism for regular youth engagement with the ministry, particularly on issues of climate resilience and water resource management. 'Zero Soil’ drive to curb Dhaka’s air pollution: Environment Adviser To raise awareness, the Unicef team proposed a collaborative documentary series tailored for schools, spotlighting key environmental messages voiced by children. The adviser welcomed the initiative, recommending its integration into school curricula, alongside teacher training and student capacity-building. Both parties agreed to develop a joint roadmap for youth-focused environmental education and localised climate actions. This would include recycling initiatives, waste segregation programs, and student-led emergency preparedness drills. The ministry and Unicef expressed strong optimism about deepening this collaboration to empower the next generation of climate leaders and drive forward Bangladesh’s sustainable development agenda.

The government is set to prepare a concrete action plan to safeguard the Sundarbans, said Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Tuesday. She came up with the announcement while speaking at a meeting on the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) held at the conference room of the ministry. “The Sundarbans is only one. We all must come together to save it,” she said. She also stressed the need for not only a solid action plan but also an effective coordination mechanism to ensure implementation. 10-feet python rescued in Khulna, released into Sundarbans She said if any risks to the Sundarbans are identified, both the Department of Forests and the Department of Environment must immediately raise the issue, prompting timely action by relevant government agencies. The adviser also directed the Department of Environment to monitor the environmental impact of cement factories operating in the southwestern region and instructed the authorities concerned to develop an urgent, time-bound work plan identifying necessary conservation steps. Highlighting the importance of a bottom-up process for Sundarbans conservation, she said, “The capacity of the Forest Department must be enhanced to prevent illegal activities.” Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Secretary of the Ministry; Mohammad Navid Shafiullah and Dr. Fahmida Khanom, Additional Secretaries; Dr. Md. Kamruzzaman, Director General of the Department of Environment; Md. Amir Hossain Chowdhury, Chief Conservator of Forests; and Malik Fida A Khan, Executive Director of CEGIS were present at the meeting.

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Tuesday said a master plan will be formulated for modern waste management in all divisional headquarters and municipalities under the Bangladesh Climate Development Partnership (BCDP). “To reduce urban temperatures, especially in Dhaka, greening initiatives will be undertaken,” Rizwana said at a meeting at the Secretariat with a delegation from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) which reviewed the progress of the BCDP. Besides, efforts will be made to repair vulnerable embankments in coastal areas, she added. The adviser added that safe and clean water facilities will be ensured for coastal communities with support from various development partners under the BCDP, she said. She said necessary steps will be taken to enhance the professional skills and knowledge of officials to effectively tackle climate risks. Graduation: Bangladesh remains confident; Dr Yunus orders precautionary measures A working group will be formed to outline the BCDP’s operational strategies and determine the next steps, Rizwana said adding that she has instructed relevant authorities to launch the BCDP website and other activities by July. Environment Secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed, Additional Secretary (Climate Change) Dr. Fahmida Khanom, and ADB’s Senior Climate Change Officer Mousumi Parvin, along with other senior officials from the bank, were present at the meeting.

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Wednesday said that those responsible for the disappearance of rare animals at Gazipur Safari Park will face severe punishment. “Not just termination of employment, but punishment should be such that no one dares to commit such negligence in the future,” the adviser said during a briefing with the press after visiting the Gazipur Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park. Referring to the recent incident of missing animals, the adviser said that the disappearance of a lemur indicates a gap in management. “After speaking with those responsible, I have identified shortcomings in the CCTV and security systems,” she added. She also mentioned that a strong investigative committee, consisting of wildlife and criminal experts, will be formed to ensure transparency in the investigation. She expressed concern over abnormal behavioural patterns observed in some elephants and jaguars. “This park should be a place not only for entertainment but also to learn love and empathy for animals,” she said. Two more parties submit reform opinions to Consensus Commission Addressing the Forest Department officials, she emphasised that it should not be the case that work only happens when government projects are in place. “The Safari Park is a national asset. It requires regular allocations and goodwill for its development and maintenance,” she added. She also mentioned that communication is underway with experts from Sri Lanka, Thailand, and India regarding the welfare of captive elephants, and a new project for the welfare of captive elephants is awaiting approval.

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has emphasised the importance of protecting trees planted as part of social forestry, stating that these trees should only be cut down if there is an urgent need. She also called for planting native trees, instead of eucalyptus, to maintain the ecological balance. "The beneficiaries of social forestry will no longer profit from the sale of trees; instead, they will receive an equal amount from the Climate Change Trust Fund," the environment adviser said, while speaking as the chief guest at a views-exchange meeting held at Rangpur Circuit House on Sunday. She highlighted the need for effective coordination among government agencies to address environmental issues such as forest destruction, pollution, and water crises. Botanical gardens to be developed as conservation sites: Adviser Rizwana "It will not be possible to tackle these problems without collaborative efforts. Measures must be taken to conserve water bodies, restore forests, and control pollution to combat challenges like droughts, floods, and river erosion," she noted. She also directed the Department of Environment to take strict actions to prevent stone crushing activities and stop illegal brick kilns. Additionally, she urged the Water Development Board to prioritise measures to prevent river erosion. The adviser recommended planting more indigenous trees along embankments and involving local communities in these efforts to strengthen the environment. During the meeting, officials from the Forest Department, Environment Department, and Water Development Board outlined their ongoing activities and challenges. They shared that they are working tirelessly to address deforestation, pollution in the industrial and agricultural sectors, and water flow control issues in the Rangpur region.

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Thursday said the high-profile probe committee formed by the government to investigate the Secretariat fire incident would submit its primary report within the next three days. "We want a thorough and extensive investigation. The government is giving the highest importance to the matter," she said while briefing reporters at Foreign Service Academy in the evening. Committee formed to probe Secretariat fire She said an emergency meeting was held with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus in the chair where the decision was taken. The Adviser said they need to wait until the probe committee's report is received to answer all the questions that they hear around. She said the media will get a copy of the probe report on completion of the full-fledged investigation. Fire at Secretariat a ‘conspiracy’: Mostafa Jamal Rizwana said the senior secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs will lead the high-powered seven-member investigation committee. Other members of the committee are - secretary of the Housing and Public Works Ministry, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), chief of Fire Service and Civil Defense (member secretary), explosive expert from the Armed Forces, and three experts (civil, chemical and electronic engineers) Dr Tanvir Mansur, Dr Yasir Arafat and Yasir Arafat from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). Cause of secretariat fire still unknown: Fire Service DG Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud also spoke at the briefing. Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam was also present.