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

DHAKA, Nov 16, 2025 (BSS) - Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Water Resources Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today called upon officials of the Public Works Department (PWD) to ensure that all government buildings are constructed and transformed into green buildings. 

She made these comments while speaking at a seminar titled "Environment 
Management, Green Procurement and Green Building" held at the conference hall of the PWD headquarters in Dhaka.

Rizwana emphasized the urgent need for clear directives in this regard and 
instructed PWD to prepare a comprehensive Green Building Manual within the 
next one month. 

She stated that no ministry or department should be allowed to bypass the 
green building requirements. 

Mandatory guidelines will help ensure reduced water consumption, greater 
access to natural light, and the adoption of modern, environment-friendly 
construction practices, she said.

The adviser said the construction sector must be modernized and that 
necessary reforms in government policies are essential. 

Lakes, she said, are meant for people-not for drainage systems-and 
development cannot proceed at the expense of nature or through commercial 
activities that harm the environment. 

She stressed the need to clearly define the respective responsibilities of 
communities and the government.

Referring to illegal brick kilns, the adviser highlighted that kilns 
established on paddy fields are causing fires and pollution, damaging the 
country's greenery. Since assuming responsibility, she has overseen the 
highest number of brick kiln demolitions in Bangladesh's history, she said. 

However, she noted that enforcement alone cannot solve the problem unless 
alternative technologies and materials are promoted. 

Brick kiln demolition, she said, is not a permanent solution. Sustainable 
progress requires enforcing the mandatory use of blocks, she said. 

Speaking at the event, Housing and Public Works and Industries Adviser Adilur 
Rahman Khan said that the condition of many public buildings-including 
hospitals, prisons, courts and orphanages-remains inadequate and these 
facilities must be renovated or reconstructed in an environmentally 
sustainable manner. 

He also called for the restoration of urban water bodies and emphasized the 
need to rebuild all government buildings in ways that support ecological 
balance.

Md Nazrul Islam, Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works; 
Engineer Md Reazul Islam, Chairman of RAJUK; Md. Asifur Rahman Bhuiyan, Chief 
Architect; and Mahmud Ali, Director of the Urban Development Directorate also 
spoke on the occasion. 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".