How has the journey been, transitioning from an environmental activist to the government’s adviser on environment as well as water resources?
I have been working on the environment, forests and rivers for almost 30 years. As the chief executive of the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), I worked for a long time on various legal issues. So I already had an understanding of the main problems concerning the country's environment, forests and rivers. In the past, as an activist, I would put pressure on government agencies to address these issues and implement necessary actions. Now, I am responsible for implementing those measures myself. There are challenges, of course, but I am consulting with everyone involved and working to address them.
Which areas are receiving the most attention in terms of environmental protection, and what are your plans?
Our plans are extensive, but it is not possible to implement everything at once. I have started working on the most critical issues, such as making the environment plastic-free by banning single-use plastics. We have also halted a project to build a stadium by razing hills in Chittagong. We are looking for alternative sites for the academy there. The erstwhile government had allocated 700 acres of land in a protected forest for the construction of a BCS administration academy, but steps are now being taken to cancel that allocation. In Gazipur, we are reclaiming forest land from illegal occupiers.
In addition, we are working to curb noise pollution by ensuring the BRTA raises awareness among drivers and strictly enforces the law when issuing vehicle licences. To combat air pollution, we have instructed that no new licences for brick kilns be issued. For preventing river pollution, we have asked divisional commissioners to identify polluters and submit a list. Special attention is being given to areas affected by disasters and floods. There are many pending tasks left from the previous government, including steps to protect the Sundarbans. However, it is now impossible to stop the construction of the Rampal power plant near the Sundarbans. We will have to ensure it does not harm the environment.
It is not possible to bring about radical change in just a month, but we are trying to implement reforms so that future leaders can continue working without having to repeat the same tasks. This requires everyone’s cooperation.
How effective do you think your efforts to make the environment plastic-free will be?
Nothing can be changed overnight. That is why we started by issuing directives to government offices and departments to ban plastic use so that the message reaches the general public. Next, we will conduct operations targeting plastic factories and markets. We will also strengthen legal measures and raise public awareness about the harmful effects of plastic use. Gradually, we aim to ban polythene bags. I have already discussed with the Ministry of Textiles and Jute about promoting jute-based bags as alternatives to plastic bags in markets.
What are your plans to prevent river pollution?
We have already begun efforts to stop river pollution. Raids have been conducted at seven to eight factories that were dumping waste directly into rivers. We cannot shut down all factories… we will go through a process. We plan to create a “red zone” list of areas where river pollution is most severe and conduct regular operations in those zones. Unlike before, where operations were conducted sporadically, there will now be regular monitoring. We have also instructed divisional commissioners to compile a list of polluters. Many positions in the National River Conservation Commission and administration remain vacant after the mass uprising, which has stalled many activities. We hope these activities will resume soon. I have already instructed the preparation of a roadmap for rivers around Dhaka and the identification of polluters.
How supportive has former environment minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury been?
Like me, he is passionate about environmental work. He also works on environmental issues at both national and international levels. Since he previously headed this ministry, he has a deep understanding of its workings. Whenever I face challenges, I seek his advice, and he has been very supportive, offering guidance when needed.
You are also the adviser for the Ministry of Water Resources. How are you managing responsibilities for both ministries?
Managing both ministries is challenging, but I have been working on water and rivers for nearly 30 years. Previously, I worked as an activist, advising the government and ensuring implementation in the field. Now, I have the responsibility of overseeing both areas. Though this administrative role is new to me, I am familiar with the issues and know how to approach them, so I find it manageable. However, we are operating in a challenging time, with public unrest and propaganda spreading on social media. We must remain cautious.
What are your plans for the Ministry of Water Resources?
After I took office, the country was hit by floods, so we had several discussions with officials from the Bangladesh Water Development Board on flood management and plans. We are focusing on constructing embankments in flood-prone areas, stopping shrimp farming by breaching embankments, and protecting canals and wetlands in Dhaka and across the country.
Recently there was a rumour about registration for St Martin's visitors, which the ministry later refuted. What are your thoughts on this?
The idea of requiring registration for visitors to St Martin’s was first discussed in 2019 and again in 2021, but it was never implemented. Recently, the topic came up again during a discussion on controlling tourism to protect the island – which went viral on social media – but no decisions were made. However, if we do not take measures to protect St Martin’s, it will be lost due to the construction of hotels and resorts on the coral island. We either need to control tourism or stop allowing overnight stays on the island to protect it.
Inflation and market prices remain high, which has led to growing public discontent. What can the government do about this?
Until inflation is brought under control, it will be difficult to stabilize market prices. First, we need to reduce inflation, and then we can work to regulate prices through regular market monitoring and cracking down on middlemen. I believe stability will be achieved within 1–2 months.
How long will the interim government’s term last?
When do you want elections to be held? It is not just about holding elections. The purpose of the uprising was to reform the country. The term of this government will depend on how long it takes to implement these reforms.
In the past month, we have made changes in the banking sector and the administrative structure, repatriated 57 workers, abolished Aynaghor detention centres and are working on other ongoing initiatives. Many tasks have been accomplished in the past month that the previous government failed to do.
We cannot specify the exact date for elections at this time, but they will certainly be held. We are in discussions with political parties and civil society organizations. Once the proposed reforms are implemented, we will announce the election and seek public input.