Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and the Ministry of Water Resources, has underscored the urgent need for greater investment in food security, safe food, clean air, and safe water. She also called for the formulation and implementation of time-befitting policies in these areas.

Speaking as the Chief Guest at the Bangladesh Sustainability Conclave 2025 held at the Dhaka North City Corporation Auditorium on Saturday, Rizwana Hasan said, “Bangladesh must transform into a beautiful, fertile, safe, and green country. For that, we must move towards sustainability.”

She emphasized that public awareness is crucial for sustainable development, urging citizens to adopt lifestyle changes and reduce overconsumption. “We must learn from our past mistakes and chart the course for our future,” she added.

Citing examples of environmental degradation, she noted that indiscriminate white stone extraction highlights the urgency for action. She also stressed the need to cut down on pesticide and chemical fertilizer use, phase out polythene shopping bags, and put an end to reckless exploitation of hills and forests in the name of development.

The Adviser further said that proposals for tax incentives will be placed before the government to encourage eco-friendly initiatives. “We have many policies, but the most important task now is their effective implementation,” she asserted.

Mohammad Azaz, Administrator of Dhaka North City Corporation, presided over the event. Other speakers included Nayoka Martinez-Bäckström, First Secretary and Deputy Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka; Farah Kabir, Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh; Syed Mahbubur Rahman, Managing Director and CEO of Mutual Trust Bank (MTB); Selim H. Rahman, Chairman of HATIL; Md. Sariful Islam, Head of Influencing, Communications, Advocacy, and Media at Oxfam in Bangladesh; and Ahsan Rony, Executive Director of Mission Green Bangladesh.

Speakers at the conclave observed that for Bangladesh, sustainability is not just a policy priority but a responsibility to future generations. They emphasized that with collective action from citizens, government, and the private sector, building a sustainable Bangladesh is achievable.