BRAC University Savar Campus arranged a seminar on ‘Environment, Governance and Development’ on June 23, 2016, at Markuli Hall. The session was facilitated by guest speaker Syeda Rizwana Hasan, a leading environmental attorney and CEO of a reputed national Non Governmental Organization named Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA). The purpose of the session was to make students aware about the environmental degradation and the existing governance system in Bangladesh to protect our nature.
At first, the Campus Superintendent Mr. Rehan Ahmed briefly introduced Ms. Hasan, the guest speaker. After the introduction, she began the session by taking students’ opinion regarding the environmental challenges in Bangladesh. Later, she incorporated the reflections given by students in her lecture and moved further. Ms. Hasan emphasized on the fact that there is no contradiction between environment and development; rather, the focus should be on sustainable development. She described a shocking picture of the tannery industry of Bangladesh where both physical and environmental damages are taking place, but laws are not implemented due to economic reasons. She shared her personal experience of filing cases against organizations involved in filling lakes to develop real estate and building illegal establishments. She further stated that the problem is not with the law as there are 210 environmental laws in Bangladesh; the problem in fact lies in implementation. According to her thoughts, lack of access to information, law and cultural impunity, non-accountability, inadequate or incoherent action against violation, lack of political commitment, lack of committed manpower, and limited scope for people in decision making are the main reasons for non-enforcement of law. She also talked about problems regarding hill cutting, deforestation, shrimp farming, and climate change among other issues. She concluded by saying that the existence of corrupted political leadership should be checked, otherwise cry for implementation of law will be in vain. The lecture was followed by a question-answer session.
Later, the CS motivated students to be aware and think further for a sustainable development. The session ended with vote of thanks to the audience and the guest speaker.