Integrated plan a must for developing ecotourism, protecting coastal areas: Rizwana

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today stressed the need for implementing an integrated plan to develop ecotourism and protect coastal regions from natural calamities.

Zoning in coastal areas and introducing the Coastal Zone Management Rules and Special Management Plans is also important, said Rizwana while speaking at a seminar titled "Formulating an Integrated Plan for Ecotourism in Payra Port City and Kuakata Coastal Region," at the conference hall of the Public Works Department in Segunbagicha.

Highlighting the need to update the Coastal Zone Policy, she said works are ongoing to formulae draft laws on land zoning and agricultural land protection.

Rizwana, also the adviser for water resources, mentioned that coastal green belts must be established, the proper use of groundwater should be ensured and waste management needs to be modernised.

"Single-use plastics must be banned and afforestation initiatives should be expanded," she added.

Housing and Public Works Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan said the project proposals should be revised to ensure long-term sustainable development in the coastal region.

At the seminar, Project Director Sharif Mohammad Tariquzzaman presented the project proposals, while BUET professors Dr Shamsul Hoque, Dr Israt Islam and Dr. Mosleh Uddin Hasan discussed those.

RAJUK Chairman Major General (retd) Siddiqur Rahman Sarkar, Additional Secretary Md Abdul Matin, Chief Engineer Shamim Akhtar, and other senior officials and urban planners were present.

Later, Syeda Rizwana Hasan addressed a stakeholder consultation on the proposed "Zero Waste Action Plan" to eliminate plastic pollution from Saint Martin's Island.

The meeting was attended by members of the Bangladesh Sustainability Alliance, ministry officials, and the Director General of the Department of Environment (DoE).