Rizwana seeks China's cooperation in tackling air pollution

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, has called for China's cooperation in addressing air pollution and fostering sustainable environmental management.

Speaking at a seminar titled "Analysis of Environmental Sustainable Development and Management in China and Bangladesh", organised by the Centre for China Studies at the Dhaka University, Rizwana emphasised the need for Bangladesh to learn from China's policies, innovations, and community-driven approaches to combating air pollution.

She urged Beijing to share its expertise and experience in pollution control and called for comprehensive information sharing on common rivers, particularly inquiring about China's plans for the Brahmaputra River.

The seminar featured prominent speakers, including Yao Wen, ambassador of China to Bangladesh, and Prof Niaz Ahmed Khan, vice chancellor of the university.

Rizwana highlighted the urgency of sustainable development, saying, "We must remain honest in our sustainable development efforts. Decades of activism are needed to protect the environment. We cannot win a race against nature; instead, we need to redesign development patterns and hold polluters accountable."

She criticised practices such as destroying rivers for the leather industry and flattening hills for unregulated development, deeming them unacceptable. Rizwana stressed the importance of technological advancements that respect the principles of nature and urged a focus on managing development activities sustainably.

Additionally, she called on Dhaka University to demonstrate leadership by phasing out single-use plastics on campus as a step toward sustainability.

The seminar featured a keynote presentation by Li Fengting, professor at Tongji University and director of the UNEP-Tongji Environmental Innovation Cooperation Center. Prof Shamsad Mortuza, director of the Office of International Affairs, also shared his insights during the session.

The event concluded with a question-and-answer segment, reflecting the strong interest of students and researchers in advancing sustainable environmental development.