Syeda Rizwana Hasan resumes leadership of BELA, pledging stronger legal action and community engagement as Bangladesh rolls out major environmental reforms and climate initiatives nationwide.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, one of Bangladesh’s most prominent environmental leaders, has returned to her former role as Chief Executive of the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA). She officially resumed duties on Wednesday and received a warm welcome from colleagues.
“I am back to continue our fight for environmental justice,” Hasan said. “We will strengthen legal advocacy, protect rivers and forests and work closely with communities and policymakers to implement practical sustainable solutions.”
Returning to BELA allows Hasan to bring experience from government back to civil society. “We will focus on practical legal solutions strategic policy engagement and empowering communities to protect their environment,” she said.
BELA’s social media page welcomed her return and noted that her leadership will make the organization stronger and help advance environmental justice across Bangladesh.
Hasan previously served as a minister ranked advisor to the interim government formed after the 2024 public uprising. She oversaw the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change the Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. During her tenure she led initiatives to control plastic use stop illegal hill cutting reclaim forest lands regulate unplanned shrimp farming and protect the St. Martin’s Island ecosystem. She also strengthened administrative and legal measures to prevent river encroachment and water pollution.
One landmark achievement under her leadership was legal action that halted industrial projects in protected wetland areas protecting biodiversity and local livelihoods.
While Hasan did tremendous work she has faced criticism for failing to fully control polythene and plastic pollution nationwide. Observers have also pointed to gaps in protecting Panthokunja Park. In September 2025 reports highlighted High Court action against elevated expressway construction over the park involving the Bangladesh Tree Protection Movement. Similarly Hasan’s team was criticized for insufficient protection of stone quarries from land grabbing in Sylhet.
Bangladesh is facing severe ecological pressures including river pollution coastal erosion industrial expansion and climate risks. Millions of people are exposed to health hazards and environmental degradation prompting the government to introduce sweeping reforms to protect ecosystems and public health.
These reforms include the National Air Quality Management Plan targeting vehicle emissions industrial pollution and construction dust. Authorities have banned single use plastics and strengthened enforcement against illegal polythene while promoting eco friendly jute bags half a million of which have already been produced. Noise Pollution Control Rules have been updated forests are being managed under the National Forest Policy 2025 and new Wildlife Conservation and Security Ordinance protects more than 1,500 species including tigers and elephants.
Bangladesh has also submitted its Third Nationally Determined Contribution NDC 3.0 to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2035. The government has revised the Climate Trust Fund and launched the Bangladesh Climate Development Partnership to mobilize climate finance coordinate with international partners and strengthen resilience programmes.
In a groundbreaking step Bangladesh has implemented a nationwide locally led adaptation LLA framework. Officially launched on February 2 the framework aligns national climate plans with community priorities strengthens coordination mobilizes climate finance and ensures practical solutions for vulnerable populations. Authorities are also finalizing mechanisms for carbon markets loss and damage finance and the NDC 3.0 implementation plan.
Bangladesh has demonstrated strong global leadership actively participating in COP29 in Baku COP30 in Belem and negotiations on the UN Plastic Treaty UNEA CBD and UN CDD processes. Domestically authorities have shut down about 50 illegal lead acid recycling facilities adopted a National Action Plan for sustainable environmental management and finalized long term strategies. The Savar airshed has been designated for strict monitoring to reduce air pollution.
Environmental experts say these reforms combined with legal advocacy and local engagement make Bangladesh an emerging model of climate adaptation and environmental governance in the developing world. Analysts stress that successful implementation transparency and public participation will determine the long term impact on communities and ecosystems. The new government led by Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP will continue her legacy and implement the plans and policies undertaken by the interim government.
“Protecting our rivers forests and communities requires both strong policies and active enforcement,” Hasan said. “With experience from government and civil society we are ready to take coordinated action for a sustainable Bangladesh.”
