DHAKA, Sept 30, 2024 (BSS)- Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today underscored the need for adopting a new, sustainable and effective approach to fight climate change.
 
“The country's people have never witnessed such flood experienced this year caused by climate change. Due to the unrestricted usage of fossil fuels, the world is now in a bad situation. So you must decide whether you will stick with the current model or think for a new one,” said Rizwana.

The adviser was addressing a discussion on curving use of polythene and single use plastic (SUP) at the seminar room of Dhaka University’s Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate bhaban here today.

Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan presided over the programme while Professor Dr Jasim Uddin of Botany department and Professor Dr Ahsab Habib of Chemistry department were present as discussants.

Adviser Rizwana Hasan said carbon emission has created a danger for Bangladesh to disappear one-third of its land into sea during the period from 2050 to 2075.

Highlighting the significance of the forests and its various aspects, she said, the rate of deforestation in Bangladesh is very high and more plantation of environment friendly trees is needed to protect the forest coverage.

“We should refrain from planting those trees discouraged by the experts,” she said.

“We have to think reforming the laws as the climate issues has reached to a very worst state,” she said, adding, “The forests have protected us several times from natural disasters in the southern part of the country.”

Discouraging the use of polythene, Rizwana said, though the use of polythene was declined immediately after banning it in 2002, its use has increased again due to the lack of supervision.

The Adviser said, if we use paper made shopping bags, the use of polythene will come down again in the country.
“If the consumers refuse to use polythene, sellers or the manufacturers will also reduce its production,” she pointed out.

Mentioning the single use plastic as harmful for environment and human body, the adviser said India or Thailand have eliminated the use of single use plastic replacing it with paper made products.

DU Pro-VC (Administration) Sayema Haque Bidisha, DU Pro-VC (Academic) Dr Mamun Ahmed, DU treasurer Prof Dr Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and teachers and students were present.

At the beginning one minute silence was observed remembering the martyrs of the student-led mass upsurge and seeking eternal peace to the departed souls.

Earlier, the adviser inaugurated a tree plantation programme at the university’s Mall Chattar around 2:30 pm and visited a painting exhibition on the senate bhaban premises.