Rizwana Hasan Urges Decentralized Waste Management, National Reforms
Syeda Rizwana Hasan Bulan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, has stressed the need for decentralized waste management and national-level follow-ups on environmental initiatives.
She emphasized the importance of training local government officials and highlighted the government's plan to phase out 4,500 old buses to curb air pollution.
At a dialogue titled “Proper Waste Management, Healthy Environment, and Rights-Centered Reforms”—organized by the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) at the CIRDAP Auditorium—speakers recommended that the Supreme Court’s Legal Aid Committee and the Ministry of Environment work together to address environmental complaints in the Environment Court.
Meanwhile, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) announced a pilot program to collect three types of waste in Jigatala and Dhanmondi.
Local authorities should lead waste management efforts instead of relying solely on the central government, said Rizwana Hasan, emphasizing the need for increased financial investment and structured reforms in waste disposal systems.
Chief Waste Management Officer of DSCC, Air Commodore Md. Mahbubur Rahman Talukder discussed the introduction of a "Health Card" for sanitation workers and noted that limited manpower and resources remain key challenges in managing city waste effectively.
The dialogue emphasized the importance of occupational safety for waste workers, transforming waste into a valuable resource, and preventing waste buildup in rivers and public spaces. It urged authorities to study successful waste management models from other regions and to launch public awareness campaigns alongside infrastructure improvements.
Potential for composting waste on vacant lands to support sustainable agriculture and highlighted the role of community participation in environmental conservation were also discussed.
The event, presided over by BLAST’s Honorary Executive Director Barrister Sara Hossain, featured insights from distinguished speakers, including Practical Action Bangladesh’s Country Director Ishrat Shabnam and Senior Academic Coordinator of the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) Mohammad Sirajul Islam.
