Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, has said that moving away from the harmful effects of polythene and single-use plastic (SUP) is now essential to protect a sustainable environment and biodiversity. Single-use plastic must be abandoned to make the planet safe for everyone, and banned polythene must be given up today, she said.

She was speaking as chief guest on 30 September at Dhaka University, at a tree-planting programme, a discussion on giving up polythene and single-use plastic, and a nature painting event held under the theme "Protecting a sustainable environment and biodiversity in a spirit of harmony, free from discrimination".

"Trees are nature's protective shield, so we must increase the number of trees," she said. "Foreign tree species can no longer be promoted. I believe Dhaka University will take the lead. This programme is a significant step in raising our awareness, and initiatives like it will strengthen the path to conserving nature."

The event was chaired by Dhaka University vice-chancellor Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan. Special guests were pro-vice-chancellor (administration) Professor Dr Sayma Haque Bidisha, pro-vice-chancellor (academic) Professor Dr Mamun Ahmed and treasurer Professor Dr Mohammad Jahangir Alam Chowdhury. Md Amir Hosain Chowdhury, chief conservator of forests under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, was also present.

Topic discussions were led by Professor Dr Mohammad Jasim Uddin of the Department of Botany and Professor Dr Md Ahsan Habib of the Department of Chemistry.

Students and environmentalists took an active part in the programme. In the nature painting competition in particular, students expressed their ideas about protecting the environment through their artwork.

Earlier, the environment and forest adviser planted saplings on the Dhaka University campus.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.