Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today spoke at the conference hall of the PWD headquarters in Dhaka.

Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today spoke at the conference hall of the PWD headquarters in Dhaka.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Water Resources Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today urged the Public Works Department (PWD) to ensure that all government buildings are constructed or upgraded as environmentally friendly green structures.

She made the call while speaking at a seminar titled “Environment Management, Green Procurement and Green Building” held at the PWD headquarters in Dhaka.

Rizwana stressed the urgent need for clear directives and instructed PWD to prepare a comprehensive Green Building Manual within the next month. No ministry or department, she said, should be allowed to bypass green building requirements.

Mandatory guidelines will help reduce water consumption, increase access to natural light, and promote modern, eco-friendly construction practices. She added that the construction sector must be modernised, supported by necessary reforms in government policies.

Highlighting environmental concerns, Rizwana said lakes should serve communities—not drainage systems—and development must never come at the expense of nature or through harmful commercial activities. She also emphasised the need to clearly define the respective responsibilities of communities and the government.

Referring to illegal brick kilns, she said kilns built on paddy fields have triggered fires, pollution and extensive damage to the country’s greenery. Since taking office, she noted, she has overseen the highest number of brick kiln demolitions in Bangladesh’s history. However, enforcement alone is not enough, she said, adding that sustainable progress requires promoting alternative materials and making the use of blocks mandatory. “Brick kiln demolition is not a permanent solution,” she remarked.

Housing and Public Works and Industries Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan said many public buildings—including hospitals, prisons, courts and orphanages—remain in poor condition and must be renovated or rebuilt in an environmentally sustainable manner. He also called for restoring urban water bodies and ensuring that all government infrastructure supports ecological balance.

Among others, Md Nazrul Islam, Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works; Engineer Md Reazul Islam, Chairman of RAJUK; Chief Architect Md Asifur Rahman Bhuiyan; and Mahmud Ali, Director of the Urban Development Directorate, spoke at the event. 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”.