“We want electricity, but never at the cost of destroying our environment” — Syeda Rizwana Hasan
The three-day Regional Infrastructure Monitoring Alliance (RIMA) Conference 2025 kicked off today at Hotel Lake Castle, Gulshan, Dhaka, bringing together activists, researchers, and policymakers from across South Asia and beyond to discuss just transition, sustainable investment, and environmental governance. The event is organized by Coastal Livelihoods and Environmental Action Network (CLEAN).
The conference was formally inaugurated by Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Hon’ble Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), who attended as Guest of Honour and Keynote Speaker.
In her keynote address, Rizwana Hasan underscored the urgent need to align economic investments with social and ecological justice.
“Investment should serve the people, not the powerhouses,” she said. “Our economy is not yet ready for large-scale energy projects that disregard environmental safeguards and community rights.”
She cautioned against compromising national regulations for the sake of speed, stating:
“Agencies like BIDA should not sacrifice national safeguards for quick approvals. Development must respect environmental laws, ensure transparency, and uphold land rights.”
Calling for urgent reforms in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, Rizwana stressed the need for openness and accountability:
“We want electricity, but never at the cost of destroying our environment. Bangladesh stands at a crossroads — development must prioritise people. Foreign investment is only sustainable when rooted in participation, transparency, and accountability.”
A call for justice, transparency and regional solidarity
Opening the event, Mr. Hasan Mehedi, Chief Executive of CLEAN, reflected on Bangladesh’s socio-political transformation and the regional challenges in achieving a just energy transition.
“We are at a pivotal moment in history,” he said. “It is time to shift decisively from fossil fuels to green and clean energy. The future depends on bold, people-centred choices that put environmental justice and sustainable development at the heart of policy and investment.”
He highlighted the critical role of youth engagement, collective action, and cross-movement solidarity in steering the region toward a just transition.
Panelists Ms. Nora Sausmikat from Urgewald, Germany, and Vidya Dinker from Growthwatch, India, addressed the regional implications of energy transitions, emphasizing geopolitical realignments and civil society collaboration.
Nora Sausmikat underscored the value of sustaining regional networks amid global uncertainty, while Vidya Dinker highlighted the shared struggles for environmental justice across South Asia.
Charting a path forward
Over the next three days, the RIMA Conference will explore key themes such as: Just transition and energy governance; Renewable energy and climate justice; Transparency and accountability in infrastructure investments; Regional cooperation for sustainable development.
The gathering aims to strengthen collective advocacy for people-centred development, ensuring that infrastructure and energy projects across the region uphold principles of equity, participation, and environmental stewardship.
