Rizwana calls for constructing govt buildings as environment-friendly
Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today spoke at the conference hall of the PWD headquarters in Dhaka. Photo: PID
DHAKA, Nov 16, 2025 (BSS) – Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Water Resources Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today called upon officials of the Public Works Department (PWD) to ensure that all government buildings are constructed and transformed into green buildings.
She made these comments while speaking at a seminar titled “Environment
Management, Green Procurement and Green Building” held at the conference hall of the PWD headquarters in Dhaka.
Rizwana emphasized the urgent need for clear directives in this regard and
instructed PWD to prepare a comprehensive Green Building Manual within the
next one month.
She stated that no ministry or department should be allowed to bypass the
green building requirements.
Mandatory guidelines will help ensure reduced water consumption, greater
access to natural light, and the adoption of modern, environment-friendly
construction practices, she said.
The adviser said the construction sector must be modernized and that
necessary reforms in government policies are essential.
Lakes, she said, are meant for people-not for drainage systems-and
development cannot proceed at the expense of nature or through commercial
activities that harm the environment.
She stressed the need to clearly define the respective responsibilities of
communities and the government.
Referring to illegal brick kilns, the adviser highlighted that kilns
established on paddy fields are causing fires and pollution, damaging the
country’s greenery. Since assuming responsibility, she has overseen the
highest number of brick kiln demolitions in Bangladesh’s history, she said.
However, she noted that enforcement alone cannot solve the problem unless
alternative technologies and materials are promoted.
Brick kiln demolition, she said, is not a permanent solution. Sustainable
progress requires enforcing the mandatory use of blocks, she said.
Speaking at the event, Housing and Public Works and Industries Adviser Adilur
Rahman Khan said that the condition of many public buildings-including
hospitals, prisons, courts and orphanages-remains inadequate and these
facilities must be renovated or reconstructed in an environmentally
sustainable manner.
He also called for the restoration of urban water bodies and emphasized the
need to rebuild all government buildings in ways that support ecological
balance.
Md Nazrul Islam, Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works;
Engineer Md Reazul Islam, Chairman of RAJUK; Md. Asifur Rahman Bhuiyan, Chief
Architect; and Mahmud Ali, Director of the Urban Development Directorate also
spoke on the occasion. The session was moderated by Md Khalequezzaman
Choudhury, Chief Engineer of PWD.
Discussants included Engineer Mosleh Uddin Ahmed (Retd.), Engineer Ashek
Ahmed Shiblee and Engineer Shah Eyamin-ul-Islam.
PowerPoint presentations were delivered on “Construction Site Environment
Management Plan”, “Dhanmondi Lake Water Quality Improvement” and “PPR-2025,
Green Procurement, and Green Building”.