Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources, has announced plans to strengthen the legal framework and grievance resolution system to make the Department of Environment's (DoE) case management more effective.
The goal is to implement stricter measures against pollution, ensuring offenders are held accountable and environmental justice is upheld.
She made these remarks on Wednesday during a review meeting at the Bangladesh Secretariat, where the progress of ongoing environmental cases was discussed. The meeting focused on the legal challenges surrounding environmental cases and explored possible solutions.
“The legal actions against air, water, and industrial pollution will be intensified. The DoE’s magistracy activities will be strengthened, case management efficiency will be improved, and more robust representation in court will be ensured,” said the adviser.
She also directed the preparation of an enforcement manual to make anti-pollution drives more effective.
The meeting was chaired by Dr Farhina Ahmed, secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Other attendees included Additional Secretary (Development) Md Khairul Hasan, Additional Secretary (Environment) Dr Fahmida Khanam, Director General of the Department of Environment Dr Md Kamruzzaman, Chief Conservator of Forests Md Amir Hossain Chowdhury, legal experts, and other officials.
They shared their insights on challenges in managing environmental cases and potential solutions.
Later, Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan also addressed a meeting to review the progress of Annual Development Programme (ADP) projects for the fiscal year 2024-25, urging timely and proper implementation of the projects.
