Dhaka: Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today urged everyone to adopt an ‘eco-centric’ philosophy to safeguard the ecology and ecosystems, which include the environment, water, land, and all forms of life. “We have to be eco-centric in our approaches rather than anthropocentric. We have to put nature at the center of all our activities. We must not try to change the nature as it has its own rules to follow,” she stated at the inaugural session of the 15th National Nature Summit 2025 at Notre Dame College, where she was the chief guest.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Notre Dame Nature Study Club (NDNSC) is organizing the two-day summit with the theme ‘Endeavor towards a Plastic-Free World’. Notre Dame College Principal Dr. Fr. Hemanto Pius Rozario presided over the inaugural session, which was also addressed by Prokriti O Jibon Foundation Chairman Muqeed Majumdar Babu as a special guest.
Rizwana, also the water resources adviser, emphasized the importance of protecting air, soil, and water. She remarked, “Any development that does not protect the soil that provides us food, the water that we drink, and the air that is needed for us to take a breath every second is not a development at all.”
Discussing environmental degradation, Rizwana attributed the current pollution issues to the actions of previous generations. She noted, “The environment is changing because you [current generation] people are bearing the brunt of the wrongdoings done by your predecessors,” and pointed out that today’s children are exposed to unsafe food and polluted air.
Rizwana highlighted the absence of potable water in the country’s rivers and called for innovative solutions from the new generation to tackle ecological challenges. She expressed optimism about the current generation’s empathy towards all living beings, stating that this sets them apart from previous generations.
She contrasted the focus of her generation on infrastructure development with the current generation’s concern for human rights and animal rights. She emphasized that the environment is not solely about human rights but also about the lives of other creatures.
Rizwana urged against destroying elements of nature that cannot be recreated, citing tannery factories versus the unique rivers ‘Buriganga’ and ‘Dhaleshwari’. She also advised against noise pollution by driving vehicles without honking and encouraged an eco-friendly lifestyle for the benefit of nature.
Expressing hope for the future, she believed that the leadership and commitment of today’s youth will lay the groundwork for a sustainable environment.