Three days after the Sheikh Hasina-led authorities was ousted on August 5, 2024, following large student-led protests, an interim authorities was shaped below the management of Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus. Syeda Rizwana Hasan, a distinguished environmental lawyer, was sworn in as an advisor, overseeing the Ministry of Surroundings, Forest and Local weather Change.
A lawyer by coaching, Hasan has labored with the Bangladesh Environmental Attorneys Affiliation (BELA) since 1993, taking up as chief government in 1997. BELA has been instrumental in utilizing public curiosity litigation to advertise environmental safety.
As a widely known environmental lawyer, Hasan has tackled points starting from the safety of wetlands in and round Dhaka, to the dangerous impacts of shrimp farming on conventional agriculture and the destruction of forests. Her work has been globally recognised. In 2009 she gained the Goldman Environmental Prize, was recognised by Time journal as certainly one of 40 Environmental Heroes of the World the identical yr, and obtained the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2012.
Dialogue Earth spoke with Hasan about her priorities and plans as Bangladesh transitions from 15 years of Awami League rule, paving the way in which for a brand new authorities.
Excerpts of the interview observe.
Dialogue Earth: What are your priorities because the environmental advisor within the interim authorities?
Rizwana Hasan: The Ministry of Surroundings, Forest and Local weather Change was beforehand led by Saber Hossain Chowdhury, who’s well-regarded, each in Bangladesh and internationally. He had set the priorities of the ministry in session with civil society actors. My first precedence is to make sure that his motion plan continues.
Past that, I goal to take actions that may restore public confidence in environmental governance. I need to infuse the spirit of the [recent] revolution into the bureaucratic course of, guaranteeing that folks’s grievances are addressed and that they’re knowledgeable in regards to the ministry’s actions. Particular actions, resembling addressing air pollution from plastic luggage or tackling noise and river air pollution, are nonetheless being finalised, as I’m nonetheless within the strategy of consulting with related stakeholders.
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On air, water and noise air pollution, we have to set up a strong monitoring mechanism to keep away from gathering knowledge in a disorganised method. Moreover, we should contain native communities in monitoring air pollution.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, advisor, Ministry of Surroundings, Forest and Local weather Change
For instance, on plastic air pollution, there will likely be common drives in opposition to the usage of plastic luggage and different single-use plastic gadgets. We’ve developed a time-bound phase-out plan, probably beginning with coastal areas to make them single-use plastic free. [The Multi-sectoral Action Plan for sustainable plastic management in Bangladesh set a target of a target of recycling 50 per cent of plastics by 2025, and the phase out of 90 per cent of single-use plastic by 2026 – eds]
On air, water and noise air pollution, we have to set up a strong monitoring mechanism to keep away from gathering knowledge in a disorganised method. Moreover, we should contain native communities in monitoring air pollution.
There may be additionally an inventory of encroachers [on forest land and rivers] that has been ready. They are going to be evicted. We nonetheless need to resolve whether or not to conduct a national drive in opposition to them or to deal with a selected space and set an instance. The federal government should recuperate all seized land, however I’ll prioritise setting an instance [by recovering forestland and rivers from specific areas].
What authorized reforms are required for the safety of the surroundings?
The Forest Act, 1927 and the Bangladesh Surroundings Courtroom, 2010 should be reformed. If I had the choice to amend the structure, I might advocate for the surroundings to be recognised as a elementary proper, relatively than only a elementary precept of state coverage, which isn’t enforceable. We additionally want a regulation regulating the indiscriminate felling of timber.
What ought to the federal government’s strategy be for managing transboundary rivers?
Whereas river administration primarily falls below the Ministry of International Affairs and the Ministry of Water Sources, I will likely be supporting them by offering info and knowledge on the adverse penalties of transboundary actions on our a part of the rivers.
What needs to be the federal government precedence in coping with local weather change impacts in Bangladesh?
Addressing local weather change requires motion at each nationally and globally. On the nationwide stage, now we have the Local weather Change Belief Fund. I’ve to make sure that its sources are directed to the communities that want them most and are getting used for long-term options and that funds will not be misused.
On the international stage, we have to advocate for sufficient funding and push for a zero-carbon coverage, which can be a part of the interim chief adviser’s marketing campaign agenda [of “Zero Poverty, Zero Unemployment & Zero Net Carbon Emissions”].
The interim authorities will quickly hand over energy to an elected political social gathering, what do you hope to perform on this quick time?
My purpose is to make sure that Bangladeshis wouldn’t have to breathe polluted air. Earlier than my time period ends, I need to put in place mechanisms that may restore the well being of our rivers in order that they move freely. I additionally need to guarantee, that after I depart, no one of this technology might want to use single-use polythene luggage – a transition much like what Tanzania has achieved. In the end, I want to depart Bangladesh a greener and extra sustainable nation.
This text was initially revealed on Dialogue Earth below a Inventive Commons licence.
