Special Emphasis on Environment Protection: Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan in Sylhet on Two-Day Visit
Adviser on Environment, Forest and Climate Change Syeda Rizwana Hasan arrived in Sylhet on a two-day official visit. She landed at Osmani International Airport by air on Saturday (January 03) morning. Senior officials of the local administration welcomed her there. It is reported that she will inspect various environmental problems of Sylhet and exchange views with stakeholders during this visit.
Message Against Hill Cutting
Speaking to reporters after coming out of the airport, the Adviser said, "The natural beauty of Sylhet is our national asset. But this beauty is being destroyed by cutting hills and hillocks in an unplanned manner. We are getting tough this time. No matter how influential those involved in environmental destruction are, no one will be spared." She informed that she would inspect several risky hillocks during this visit.
Steps to Prevent River Pollution
Rizwana Hasan also spoke about the pollution and navigability crisis of Surma and Kushiyara rivers in Sylhet. She said the rivers are almost dead today due to plastic waste and illegal encroachment. To save the rivers, local people have to be aware and the administration has to play a more responsible role. She ordered to start immediate drives to evict illegal structures along the river banks.
List of Programs
According to the Adviser's itinerary, she will meet with officials of the Department of Environment and Forest Department at the Divisional Commissioner's office this afternoon. In the afternoon, she will exchange views with the students of the Environment Club at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology. Tomorrow she will visit Jaflong and Bholaganj areas to see the environmental disaster caused by stone extraction.
Public Expectation
New hope has arisen among environmentalists in Sylhet centering this visit of the Environment Adviser. The coordinator of an organization called 'Dhoritri Rokkhay Amra' (We for saving the earth) said, "We have been demanding a stop to hill cutting for a long time. We hope that after this visit of the Adviser, there will be visible changes and the administration will be more active."
