Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources, announced proposals to transform forest resource centers into nature learning hubs to engage urban youth with biodiversity.
During a meeting on Thursday with a high-level Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) delegation led by its Executive Senior Vice-President, Miyazaki Katsura, at the Bangladesh Secretariat, she also sought JICA’s support for modernizing the Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation (BFIDC) to produce eco-friendly furniture and expand into new markets.
Additional proposals included upgrading safari parks to global standards and enhancing digital forest monitoring to combat illegal logging.
The meeting, rooted in mutual respect and a strong bilateral partnership, focused on deepening collaboration in climate change adaptation, biodiversity conservation, forest management, and sustainable development.
Rizwana Hasan highlighted Bangladesh’s push for renewable energy, emphasizing the solarization of public buildings and referencing past judicial mandates for the installation of rooftop solar panels.
She also addressed the environmental and human costs of the ship-breaking industry, urging Japan to uphold transparency and accountability in future cooperation.
Expressing gratitude for Japan’s consistent support, the adviser praised JICA’s track record of early project completion, budget efficiency, and public trust, notably referencing Japan’s handling of the Matarbari project’s second phase.
Katsura commended Bangladesh’s independent development efforts and reaffirmed JICA’s alignment with global “Zero Poverty” and “Zero Unemployment” goals, as well as the Paris Agreement.
She highlighted JICA’s contributions, including the Clean Dhaka initiative, and outlined four key areas of climate adaptation support: data-driven planning, knowledge sharing, energy transition, and private sector financing.
Discussions also covered the Climate Change Trust Fund and the new Bangladesh Climate Development Partnership platform, which aims to streamline international finance.
Rizwana proposed a wildlife conservation trust, inviting Japanese collaboration.
Cox’s Bazar Life Desk/BSS
