Rizwana calls for transparency in Teesta mega project

Staff Reporter:

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has urged the government to conduct a thorough feasibility study and ensure meaningful community participation before moving forward with the proposed Teesta mega project.

Speaking at a programme in Dhaka on Saturday she stressed that any foreign investment, particularly in large-scale infrastructure, must be transparent, accountable, and offered on concessional terms.

“Investors should empower local communities, not exploit regulatory gaps,” she said, warning against compromising national interests in the name of development.

Rizwana, who is also a leading environmental activist, underscored the need for strong accountability mechanisms and effective grievance redress for communities affected by environmental violations or policy non-compliance.

She also called for a comprehensive environmental impactassessment, citing examples like riverbank erosion around the Padma Bridge as a lesson for future projects.

Addressing a seminar titled “Sustainability Governance of China’s Energy Investment in Bangladesh “chaired by Dr Muhammad Badrul Hasan, lead of SGAIN Bangladesh, Rizwana criticised successive governments for equating development with the construction of roads and mega projects.

“True progress should be measured through sustainability, environmental justice, and social inclusion,” she said. She noted that Bangladesh is currently in talks with the Chinese ambassador regarding efforts to restore the Buriganga River, saying China’s experience in environmental management the so-called “Beijing model” can offer valuable lessons for Bangladesh.

Rizwana also urged policymakers to prioritise investments in renewable energy, fisheries, waste-to-energy initiatives, and community-led programmes, warning that projects like the Barapukuria coal mine have shown the environmental cost of unbalanced energy development.

Reiterating Bangladesh’s commitment to achieving 30 percent renewable energy by 2040, she said Chinese cooperation could play a pivotal role in ensuring steady, sustainable growth aligned with environmental protection and public welfare.