Dhaka 3 February 2025 :
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, stated that Preserving Dhaka’s green spaces and wetlands is the only way to make it livable.
She emphasized that without protecting wetlands, Dhaka cannot be saved. She pointed out that even light rainfall causes severe waterlogging in many parts of the city, making it resemble Cox’s Bazar. Restoring canals and water bodies can change this situation. If Dhaka’s canals can be effectively freed from pollution, they will serve as buffer zones.
Speaking as the chief guest at a national dialogue titled ‘Re-Wet Dhaka’ on the occasion of World Wetlands Day, held at the Krishibid Institution in the capital today, the Advisor made these remarks.
Rizwana Hasan said, The government has initiated efforts to reclaim and free 19 canals in Dhaka from encroachment and pollution. However, it is unfortunate that even after 53 years, an effective sewerage system has not been established in the city. The canals are severely polluted, and when excavated, discarded mattresses, pillows, plates, and buckets are often found in them. While the situation cannot be entirely transformed within a year or two, a path to solutions can be identified. Public participation is crucial in this effort. Cultivating vegetables along the banks of lakes and canals can improve the environment and contribute to food supply.
Rizwana Hasan extended her heartfelt greetings to all participants of the event, stating that they are not merely workers but should take leadership roles. She expressed appreciation for RAJUK (Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha) for the first time, taking steps to reclaim a nine-acre wetland in Keraniganj, which was being filled in for housing development. She stressed that although time is limited, the focus should be on setting examples by making meaningful progress. She further stated that misleading economic arguments should not divert them from their mission. There will be resistance, but it must be collectively countered.
At the beginning of the event, Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan inaugurated the Re-Wet Project’s website. Mohammad Ejaz, Chairman of the River and Delta Research Center (RDRC), shared insights from the project in the closing remarks of the first session. He emphasized the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration, government and private sector support, and increased public awareness to protect and restore Dhaka’s wetlands.
The dialogue featured special guests, including Major General (Retd.) Siddiqur Rahman Sarkar, Chairman of RAJU Nyoka Martinez-Backström, First Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, Embassy of Sweden, Iftekhar Mahmud, Journalist, ASM Marjan Noor, Climate and Environment Advisor, British High Commission in Dhaka.
The Re-Wet Project is supported by Reversing Environmental Degradation in Africa and Asia (REDA), the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), and UK International Development. Consortium members include the University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University, Smith College, Nagar Abad, YouthNet for Climate Justice, and the Prochesta Foundation. Notably, ‘Re-Wet’ is a research-based initiative funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and is led by the University of Sheffield and Bangladesh’s River and Delta Research Consultants. The project focuses on restoring a section of the Gulshan-Banani Lake in Dhaka.
