Development Must Prioritise Environment and Public Health

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan. File Photo

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Tuesday said development planning must be integrated and forward-looking, with the environment, biodiversity and public health placed at its core.

She warned that when environmental and ecological considerations are sacrificed in the name of development, society ultimately pays the price. “Roads and infrastructure can be rebuilt, but a river or the Sundarbans cannot be recreated,” she said.

Rizwana added that climate change, pandemics and recurring environmental crises repeatedly demonstrate how closely interconnected natural systems are. “Humans are not the owners of nature; we are an inseparable part of it,” she said.

She made the remarks while speaking as chief guest at a seminar titled One Health Initiatives: Opportunities, Challenges and Future Strategies, held at a city hotel.

The adviser noted that excessive procedural complexity, weak coordination among ministries and lengthy decision-making processes remain major obstacles to implementing One Health initiatives effectively.

To overcome these challenges, she emphasised the need to establish functional advisory committees at national and district levels and to appoint clear focal points in every ministry.

Rizwana also called for increased manpower, expanded digital processes and stronger coordination with the Planning Division, the Ministry of Public Administration and the Ministry of Finance to speed up project implementation.

Drawing on practical experience, she said land acquisition alone often consumes a significant portion of a five-year project timeline, underscoring the need for transparent and effective reforms to address this bottleneck.

She stressed that One Health is not merely a technical framework but a social and ethical value system. “The importance of protecting wildlife and promoting nature-based development must be communicated across society. Without shared social values, sustainable development is impossible,” she said.

Expressing optimism, Rizwana said the government would work to further strengthen One Health initiatives through capacity building, policy reforms and improved coordination.

Speaking at the seminar, Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter said the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock must work closely with the ministries responsible for environment, health and other relevant sectors to safeguard public welfare.

Several senior officials and experts from the environment, health and livestock sectors also spoke at the event, highlighting the need for coordinated action to address emerging health and environmental risks.