Syeda Rizwana Hasan is the Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, as well as the Ministry of Water Resources under the interim government. June 5 was World Environment Day. To ensure public participation in the observance, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has organized a series of events including World Environment Day celebrations, an Environment fair, the National Tree Plantation Campaign, and a Tree fair. These events were officially inaugurated today (June 25). As the Adviser to the concerned ministries, she spoke to Bonik Barta on issues related to the country’s environment, forests, and water resources. The interview was conducted by Badrul Alam.
The interim government has been in office for nearly 11 months. You’re in charge of two important ministries—the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources. What major steps have you taken from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change?
One thing that has seemed important to me is that the two entities—the Department of Environment and the Ministry itself—are now widely recognized. It’s now understood across sectors that they have specific responsibilities, and that those who violate environmental laws can face penalties. The full benefits of our work reaching the public will take a bit more time. If you plant a tree today, it’ll take five, seven, or even ten years to bear fruit. But those who break the law have received a clear message: the Department of Environment is actively enforcing the law. At the same time, those who have consistently worked or spoken out about forest encroachment, loss of forest land, and deforestation have also received the message that practical steps are being taken to protect the forests.
There had been a lot of discussion about why nothing was being done in Saint Martin’s—why shopping bags and polythene bags weren’t disappearing from the markets. Now, if you go to the superstores, you can say there isn’t a single polythene bag there. Challenges remain in other places. But this is also an example of law enforcement. Another point is that we didn’t issue any new restrictions on Saint Martin’s. We implemented previously imposed restrictions. Same with polythene—we didn’t issue a new ban. We began implementing the 2002 ban in 2024. These are some illustrations of law enforcement and implementation.
We are focusing on seven key areas. These include noise pollution, air pollution, freeing rivers from encroachment and pollution, reducing the use of plastic and polythene, and cutting down industrial pollution. Another is restoring the ecosystem of Saint Martin’s Island, while also controlling the activities that damage the ecosystem. Even if we can successfully develop one model, it can then be replicated in the haor region, in Ratargul, and in other tourist spots.
I’m actually an environmental activist. But people often link me with everything—sand extraction, stone extraction, waste management. But waste management actually falls under local government. Sand falls under the Ministry of Land, and stones fall under the Ministry of Mineral Resources. The positive thing is that now we are all working together on these issues. Solving long-standing, deep-rooted problems takes time. But the initiative for solutions has already begun.
What challenges are you facing in getting these tasks done?
One challenge is that we’re here for such a short period, so there isn’t really an opportunity to work with a long-term vision. For example, someone wants to build a road, an industrial facility, or a housing project. A note then comes to the Environment Ministry saying a road must be cut through a hill, or a road must be built by clearing forest. They claim it’s “for the greater public interest.” In the first month or two after I took office, I received several such letters. I replied that hill cutting is no longer an option, so we cannot approve the proposal. For the past eight months, I haven’t received another letter like that. It seems other ministries are starting to realize that environmental responsibility isn’t only the Environment Ministry’s burden. They now understand that it’s no longer acceptable to simply say, “Cut five acres of forest” or “Level that hill.” Those proposals just don’t come anymore.
Another challenge is our limited manpower. There are more than ten thousand brick kilns in the country. Over six thousand of them are illegal. Yet I have only six magistrates. During winter, we receive brick-kiln complaints around the clock. Where can we send six magistrates from Dhaka? Yes, there are officials in the divisions, but even if they have personnel, they lack enforcement funds—no vehicles, no fuel. We’ve been able to involve the district commissioners at the local level. In many places they’ve done a very good job; in some places, the response hasn’t been as strong. A few days ago, an incident happened in Jaflong. When we raised our concerns with the Ministry of Mineral Resources, the Mineral Resources Adviser took it seriously. He held a meeting with the Home Affairs Adviser and me. We managed to remove 17 stone quarries, all in ecologically sensitive areas, from the leaseeligible list. Even then, when extraction continued, we went to the field. That’s how our ministries are working together.
I’m working on Saint Martin’s Island. Two ministries are also looking at whether something can be done in Jaflong, Lovachhara, Upomachhara, and Bichhanakandi. Coordination isn’t that hard—with leadership, it can be done. Change is a process; you need to give it time, and you have to change yourself as well. Suppose someone asks you, “Do you take a jute bag when you go to the market?” You probably don’t. Yet people come to me and ask why polythene shopping bags haven’t been banned. As a citizen, you haven’t fulfilled your own responsibility.
Isn’t it also important to see whether alternatives to polythene are actually available to ordinary consumers? Has the government taken any steps to provide jute bags and other eco-friendly options for the public?
You may know that polythene has been banned since 2002. During the first four or five months, we went to various markets and showed people what they could use instead of polythene. We didn’t lean heavily on punitive measures. After that, we began confiscating polythene. We’ve talked with the Ministry of Jute. They have taken the initiative. They will use the country’s jute mills to produce jute bags so an alternative to polythene becomes easily available. There is coordination here as well. The Ministry of Jute has taken on that responsibility. But whether or not we make jute bags readily available, you still have at least one jute bag at home. The jute sack you bought rice in—that, too, can be used.
Discussion is ongoing that the election will be held in February. What are you leaving behind for those who will be elected and come to power?
We are leaving behind several revised laws that will reflect the commitment to building a new Bangladesh, which will also embody public expectations. They will be able to move forward based on these. We are clearing a lot of red tape and handing over many tasks to them. For example, three forest restoration projects have already been approved and work has started. If you include the projects addressing ‘human-elephant conflict’ and ‘Lathi Tila,’ there are a total of four forest projects already approved and underway. They will have to complete these. We are also submitting development project proposals (DPPs) to free 18 rivers from encroachment and pollution. We intend to complete the full restoration plan for the Turag River and start work by November or December. Just as I have bureaucratic processes on my side, the donor agencies have their own as well. We have a plan to free one river from pollution and encroachment in every district of the country. We won’t be able to do all this in just a year and a half, so we have narrowed the list to 18 rivers. We are trying to get detailed project plans approved and will start some of the work. For example, Sutang, Labandah, and Haridhoa are the three most polluted rivers in the country. We have already approved dredging projects for these. The World Bank and ADB are assisting us with the Turag dredging work. These four projects are quite substantial. Meanwhile, we have begun removing infrastructure causing the death of the Baral River. Illegal encroachment on the Karatoya River has been cleared. There is also a project for Karatoya in the green sheet. The next government can continue these initiatives. Of course, they will have their own vision as well. We have launched a strict campaign against plastic and polythene. Single-use plastics, however, cannot be phased out during our tenure. The next government will need to take this forward.
Let me add one more thing. There is a government institution called Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation (BFIDC). Surprisingly, this government agency is profitable. The institution can provide affordable sustainable furniture to the public. At the same time, I want to leave behind a business model that will make it competitive at national and international levels. If individual producers of bamboo, cane, and jute products can export to 38 countries, why can’t a government agency do the same? It has land, budget, manpower, and machinery. Why shouldn’t it compete? We have already started work to make this government institution competitive.
How is the Water Resources Ministry functioning? Could you tell us a bit about it?
The work of the Water Resources Ministry is divided into several parts. One is the Teesta project with China. The project’s Development Project Proposal (DPP) has already been submitted and is now with the Planning Commission. Once the DPP reaches the Economic Relations Division (ERD), we will be able to sign the loan agreement for this project. Another area of work is flood management. We currently cannot provide accurate flood forecasts. To address this critical issue, we have had preliminary talks with the UK Met Office. We hope to sign an agreement related to this by July. The UK Met Office will help us improve our capacity to give early warnings for flash floods. At the same time, we will gain access to their data repositories. This will assist us in disaster management and coping with the impacts of climate change.
Beyond this, we are working to free rivers from encroachment and pollution. The ministry has identified three Beels (wetlands)—Arial Beel, Chalan Beel, and Belai Beel. A work plan around Arial Beel has already been presented. Work is ongoing on plans to preserve Chalan and Belai Beels. We will push forward as much as possible with preserving these wetlands so the next government can quickly take steps to protect such heritage sites. The ministry is also making efforts to get UNESCO recognition for the Halda River, as it has unique features within the subcontinent.
Additionally, after taking charge, I noticed that emergency works carried out had no quality checks. To address this, we have established a committee through a gazette notification. The committee will include an external member, the area’s Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), UNO, a student, and a local resident. Together, they will monitor the work. For example, when we visited Rangpur, we were asked to build a 43-kilometer embankment. Within two months of our return, the Ministry of Finance approved the funding to carry out the work. Through this committee, we have identified many irregularities, which is bringing transparency.
The Water Resources Ministry handles some work with geopolitical implications, such as the Joint Rivers Commission. How is progress going there?
For now, only routine work is being done there. The joint committee monitors whether the agreed amount of water is being released at specified intervals. This data will be useful in future negotiations on the matter. Our Ganges Treaty expires in December 2026. By then, an elected government will take over and begin talks to renew the treaty. The necessary data and information are being prepared for that.
There has been a lot of discussion about Saint Martin’s Island. Could you share your thoughts on this?
The confusion surrounding Saint Martin’s Island lacks any objectivity or scientific and technical validity. These are entirely politically motivated, baseless claims. Some rumors are being spread, but most of the posts cannot even be traced to their sources. This kind of thing happens in our political context. We cannot just sit idle over this. Our first priority is to save Saint Martin’s Island. Besides, we don’t have a second Saint Martin’s, Sundarbans, or a second Tanguar Haor. So, we must protect these areas. For that reason, we have started working on what can be done to save Saint Martin’s. First, tourism on the island must be controlled. The island has about 8,000 residents, but if 10,000 visitors come every day, how can people live in peace? They can’t. But the locals have become accustomed to it because tourism is their additional source of income. To offer alternatives, we have approved a plan to create alternative livelihoods. We have taken initial steps with the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Livestock Ministries to identify which initiatives could help people transition to alternative lifestyles—ensuring the people of Saint Martin’s don’t suffer, they receive a clean environment, and the island remains unharmed. So, I don’t pay much attention to who says what or why.
We will try to do as much as we can. We haven’t been able to start all the work yet, but we will. We hope the next elected government will continue these efforts.
Environmental changes take time. In this regard, we will at least try to apply technology to some tasks, such as monitoring industrial pollution or forest conditions online. If anyone can assist us with technology or advice, I would be very happy to connect. When trees are cut in a forest, if there are 100,000 trees, each one is marked with a cross. Just as forests are marked by color coding, we will explore whether we can use technology to monitor the forests. For this, we will need to invest in technology. When there was a fire in Magurchhara, the forest regenerated naturally without any human intervention. When the Sundarbans were damaged by Cyclone Aila and Sidr, we didn’t need to replant the trees—the forest recovered naturally. The Agriculture Ministry doesn’t plant trees; neither does the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry. So why should the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change be solely responsible for planting trees? Natural regeneration is possible. That’s why monitoring is crucial.
Another important point is that we need to invest more in our environmental administration, especially in two areas: first, community-based efforts, and second, technology. This will reduce corruption significantly. Just as we can monitor factory operations from home, we can monitor key forest locations such as entry and exit points with CCTV. That way, we won’t hear anymore about trees being cut and removed at night. This will require investment. I share this advice for future policymakers.
[This interview was originally conducted in Bangla and published in both the Print and Online editions of Bonik Barta. It has since been translated for the English edition.]