Interim government adviser Rizwana Hasan says her administration is open to scrutiny after office, highlighting limited tenure, election-focused reforms and steps taken to strengthen environmental governance amid public debate nationwide.
Adviser to the interim government for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Water Resources and Information and Broadcasting, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, has said she has no hesitation in facing accountability, including standing trial, after leaving office.
“Clearing 54 years of accumulated problems is not possible for a government with a one-and-a-half-year tenure. We have done whatever was possible within this limited time. So there is no fear of accountability,” she said.
She made the remarks on Friday while inaugurating a two-day national environmental conference jointly organised by Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) and the Bangladesh Environment Network (BEN) at the Krishibid Institution auditorium in the capital.
Rizwana Hasan said the interim government effectively had around one year to work, as the initial months were spent laying the groundwork and the latter period has been dominated by election-related activities. Despite various constraints, she said the government prioritised reforms essential to holding credible elections.
Based on recommendations from six reform commissions formed with citizen representatives, the government prepared the July National Charter. She rejected claims that environmental issues were ignored, noting that several reform proposals addressed environmental governance.
She said the Public Administration Reform Commission recommended introducing a separate environment cadre, while the Constitution Reform Commission proposed recognising environmental protection as a fundamental right. However, she acknowledged that implementing such reforms is not feasible within the interim government’s limited mandate.
Reiterating the government’s openness to scrutiny, the adviser said accountability is not something the interim administration fears. “But it is unrealistic to hold this government responsible for 54 years of accumulated mismanagement,” she added.
She said the government has taken steps to reform environmental laws and regulations, protect rivers and wetlands and strengthen measures against air and noise pollution.
Speaking at the conference, BEN founder Dr Nazrul Islam said that although several reform commissions were formed during the interim government’s tenure, none focused exclusively on environmental reform. He stressed that environmental reform must be incorporated into the July Charter as well as the election manifestos of political parties.
He called for a shift away from fragmented, short-term climate projects towards integrated and systematic planning across key sectors such as agriculture, water management, biodiversity and coastal governance. He also emphasised the need to expand the use of climate-friendly technologies, nature-based solutions and renewable energy.
BEN Global Coordinator Dr Md Khalequzzaman warned that environmental degradation in Bangladesh has long been driven by political patronage. “Without political will, environmental protection will not be possible,” he said, calling for coordinated action by government agencies and civil society.
Conference Preparation Committee President Prof M Firoz Ahmed said environmental progress has remained limited despite repeated efforts, citing high population pressure and limited natural resources. He urged reforms not only in environmental policy but also in enforcement and implementation mechanisms.
BAPA General Secretary Md Alamgir Kabir said the organisation has been working on environmental protection for 25 years. He said recommendations emerging from the conference would be shared with political parties to ensure their inclusion in election manifestos and effective implementation by future governments.
The inaugural session was chaired by BAPA President Prof Nur Mohammad Talukder, while the conference concept paper was presented by Dr Nazrul Islam. The event was moderated by Md Alamgir Kabir, with speakers including Dr Md Khalequzzaman and Prof M Firoz Ahmed.
Following the opening session, three books were unveiled: Resolution of BAPA-BEN Conference: 2000–2025, Sustainable Urbanisation: Challenges and Solutions and 25 Years of BAPA: Success and Challenges in Environmental Movements.
Over the two-day event, seven expert sessions are being held on water development, energy and power, urbanisation and physical planning, transport systems, agriculture and soil and food contamination, air, noise and water pollution and waste management, forest and biodiversity protection and coastal and marine environment conservation.
A total of 117 research papers by national and international experts are being presented at the conference, which has drawn more than 500 participants from home and abroad. The event will conclude with a set of policy recommendations aimed at strengthening environmental governance in Bangladesh in line with global climate and sustainability commitments.
