Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Adviser, today emphasized the importance of adopting an 'eco-centric' approach to protect the environment at the 15th National Nature Summit 2025. 

Speaking at the event's inaugural session at Notre Dame College, she urged attendees to place nature at the center of all activities, highlighting the need to protect ecosystems, water, land, and life forms.

The summit, organized by Notre Dame Nature Study Club with the theme 'Endeavor towards a Plastic-Free World', also featured addresses from Dr. Fr. Hemanto Pius Rozario, Principal of Notre Dame College, and Muqeed Majumdar Babu, Chairman of the Prokriti O Jibon Foundation.

Rizwana warned that development without environmental protection is not true progress. She pointed to pollution and the degradation of natural resources as a legacy of past generations and urged the new generation to introduce innovative solutions to these pressing issues. 

She stressed the need to safeguard air, soil, and water, calling for a shift in thinking from human-centered development to one that values the rights of all living beings.

Acknowledging the growing environmental awareness among young people, Rizwana expressed hope that their leadership would guide future efforts to protect nature, including combating pollution and adopting eco-friendly lifestyles. 

She also encouraged the public to reduce noise pollution, particularly by avoiding unnecessary vehicle honking, and to recognize that we cannot replace the irreplaceable, like rivers and natural landscapes.

BDST: 1645 HRS, JAN 17, 2025
MN