Syeda Rizwana Hasan, the interim government’s adviser on the environment, forests, and climate change, urged everyone involved today to make sure the climate fund is used appropriately and to prevent any abuse.
“There is no scope of misappropriation of the money disbursed for Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund (BCCTF),” she said while addressing a function here today.
The programme titled- “International Environment Conference 2024 was arranged under the auspices of “Sabuj Prithibi”, a local organization working on environment issue.
According to the new guidelines, the interim administration has so far approved seven BCCTF projects, Rizwana added, expecting that there won’t be any accusations of money laundering.
According to her, the government has decided to employ blocks rather than bricks in a number of projects, so it is not approving the construction of new brick kiln fields.
She stated that social forestry would be encouraged in the reserve forests and that the beneficiaries would receive a portion of the revenues that were generated.
She did, however, remind everyone that the forest department’s main responsibility was to preserve natural woods, not to disburse money.
Rizwana stressed on planting indigenous species of trees instead of planting eucalyptus and acacia in the forestation projects.
She also laid importance on securing farmers’ rights in the social forestry saying conflicts between the forest department and farmers should be resolved.
She went on to say that it is crucial for forest workers, forest residents, and wildlife to live in harmony.
The advisor urged action to safeguard agriculture from climate change.
Rezwana advocated for the abandonment of consumer-driven economic structures, the reduction of energy waste, and the utilisation of daylight hours.
Rizwana urged people to take a strong stand against pollution and abstain from using polythene in order to lessen the country’s environmental load.
“Active participation and collective efforts are essential to safeguard Bangladesh’s environment,” she said.
She further stressed the importance on public awareness and responsible actions to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change.
She added that individual and group efforts are essential and that the younger generation plays a significant role in promoting eco-friendly technologies, arguing that government initiatives alone are insufficient to protect the environment.
ASPADA Environmental Development Foundation Executive Director Lion M. A. Rashid, Secretary General of Riverine People Sheikh Rokon, Green Earth’s General Secretary Shahid Mahmud, and Tangail Deputy Commissioner Sharifa Haque also spoke at the event. Professor Dr. Shahidul Haque of Bangladesh Agricultural University also spoke.
Farmina Hossain, director of Bureau Bangladesh, oversaw the event.
