Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has said that sustainable development cannot be achieved through greenwashing projects or by treating environmental protocols as routine exercises, reports BSS.
"We must build systems that respect public participation, access to information, and access to justice," she told a workshop.
The workshop was organised at the Department of Environment (DoE) in Dhaka to mark the International Day for Biological Diversity (IBD) 2025, observed under the theme "Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development."
Rizwana emphasised that sustainability requires more than just ticking compliance checklists.
"Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports are meaningless if they are not written in a language people understand or is shared with the public. Public voices must not only be heard, they must be acted upon," she noted.
Expressing concern over the growing gap between environmentalists and government agencies, the adviser observed that there is a tendency to approve development projects without properly addressing environmental concerns.
"Environment is often treated as an afterthought. That mindset must change," she said.
Rizwana said she has instructed the DoE to make all EIA reports public, asserting that people have the right to know.
"Responding to public complaints is not a favour; it's our duty. We must act transparently and communicate back to the citizens," she said.
Underscoring the importance of governance reform, Rizwana added, "We must move beyond departmental silos. The vision of environmental protection must be owned by all ministries — not just one."
Referring to environmental degradation in Bangladesh, the adviser warned, "Our air, rivers, and biodiversity are in peril. Without putting nature at the center of our development model, we cannot move forward."
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