Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Water Resources Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan underscored the need for accountability, coordination, and youth engagement in Bangladesh’s climate adaptation efforts.
Emphasizing the role of young people, she proposed that youth representatives be included in monitoring mechanisms for infrastructure and water-related projects implemented by the Water Development Board and others.
The Adviser also stressed the need for practical and environmentally sound solutions to issues like fecal sludge management and medical waste disposal. She recommended the adoption of safer technologies, such as microwave treatment, instead of traditional incineration methods.
She made these remarks during a meeting at her Secretariat office on Monday with a high-level UNICEF Bangladesh delegation, led by Country Representative Rana Flowers. The discussions focused on strengthening joint action to tackle the climate crisis through education, youth participation, and integrated social-sector strategies.
Rana Flowers highlighted the growing risks climate change poses to children and adolescents—such as increased flooding, undernutrition, and disrupted education. She reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to placing young people at the center of climate solutions.
As part of this effort, she proposed expanding youth consultations across districts to gather grassroots insights and foster greater ownership. She also recommended establishing a structured platform for regular youth engagement with the Ministry, particularly in the areas of climate resilience and water resource management.
To enhance awareness, the UNICEF team proposed developing a collaborative documentary series for schools, featuring children as climate messengers. The Adviser welcomed the initiative, suggesting its integration into the school curriculum, along with teacher training and student capacity-building programs.
Both parties agreed to develop a joint roadmap for youth-centered environmental education and localized climate action. Proposed initiatives include recycling programs, waste segregation efforts, and student-led emergency preparedness drills.
The Ministry and UNICEF expressed strong optimism about deepening collaboration to empower the next generation of climate leaders and accelerate Bangladesh’s path toward sustainable development.
Bd-Pratidin English / AM
