Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has called for urgent, scalable climate adaptation actions. “As a nation, we bear the responsibility of protecting our people—whether foreign funds and investments are available or not. This is why Bangladesh created the Climate Change Trust Fund, allocating a portion of our national budget to tackle climate challenges,” she said while speaking as the chief guest at a workshop on Thursday. Standard Chartered Bank organised the workshop on “Catalyzing Climate Adaptation Actions at Scale and Mobilizing Investments” at The Westin, Dhaka on Thursday. “Adaptation is essential, but it does not give us a license to continue with flawed economic models that contribute to climate change,” added the adviser. Reducing air pollution time-consuming process: Rizwana “At COP29, we saw financial commitments, but if funds arrive too late or come in the form of loans, they may worsen our financial burden instead of offering solutions,” Rizwana also said. She commended the workshop’s unique approach, bringing together lenders and bilateral partners to discuss effective climate financing. “Many climate-affected people are unaware of the discussions taking place in rooms like this. Connecting investors with ground realities is crucial to ensure meaningful, sustainable interventions,” the environment adviser said. “From Dhaka to Los Angeles, the world must learn that humans cannot dominate nature—we must live in harmony with it,” she said. Survival depends on clean air and water, not on material possessions: Rizwana “Despite facing severe hardships, Bangladesh’s farmers have never gone on strike. They continue to feed the nation. It is our responsibility to support them by connecting local solutions with expert knowledge and new technologies,” she added. British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke, British High Commissioner; United Nations Resident Coordinator Gwyn Lewis and Asian Development Bank Country Director Hoe Yun Jeong spoke at the event, among others.

The government plans to form a taskforce and implement various activities through a time-bound action plan to address air pollution, said Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. She made the remarks at a seminar titled "Air Quality Research and Environmental Policy Discussion," jointly organized by the Faculty of Science at Dhaka University and the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka, held at the Faculty of Science conference room on Sunday. Rooftop gardens vital for clean air, safe food: Rizwana Syeda Rizwana Hasan was the chief guest at the event, while Professor Dr. Syama Haque Bidisha, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) of Dhaka University, was the guest of honor. The seminar was chaired by Professor Dr. Abdus Salam, Dean of the Faculty of Science at Dhaka University, with Professor Dr. James J. Schauer from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, as the special guest. Amy Cass, a representative from the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka, conducted the seminar. Syeda Rizwana Hasan emphasized that everyone is suffering from the effects of air pollution in Dhaka. She stated, "The government has taken various plans and initiatives to combat air pollution. In the near future, tree planting and greening will be carried out on the dividers of roads in Dhaka, and a taskforce will be formed to implement different activities through a time-bound action plan."  She also stressed the importance of collective efforts and awareness at every level. Govt finalises plan for Swatch of No-Ground to protect marine biodiversity: Rizwana Dr. Sayema Haque Bidisha, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) of Dhaka University, highlighted the increasing harmful effects of air pollution on the environment, public health, and the economy.  Emphasizing the importance of raising awareness and fostering collaborative efforts between the government and various organizations to combat air pollution, she said, "people are suffering from various severe diseases due to air pollution, with rising rates of premature deaths and child mortality. Air pollution is also diminishing people’s productivity and efficiency".