No industry will be allowed to extract groundwater for free: Rizwana
She also praised innovations such as waterless dyeing technologies in the textile industry
The government has almost finalised the Industrial Water Use Act, and in future, no industry will be able to extract groundwater for free, said Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Water Resources.
Speaking as guest of honour at a dialogue hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) in Dhaka today (20 July), Rizwana stressed the need to regulate industrial water usage and promote sustainable investment.
"Once industries start paying for water, they will use it more responsibly," she said, adding that the upcoming Industrial Water Use Guidelines will establish pricing mechanisms and monitoring for groundwater extraction.
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The AmCham dialogue, held at the Sheraton Dhaka and supported by Recover™, Philip Morris Bangladesh Ltd and Chevron Bangladesh, centred on the theme of "Fostering Sustainable Investment".
At the programme, Rizwana, also the adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, said, "We must pursue both sustainable transactions and sustainable investments. Sustainable investment is not just a national ambition – it must be a global commitment."
"Sustainability must go hand in hand with equity. If resource-intensive economies continue to consume disproportionately, no global framework will hold," she warned.
She also praised innovations such as waterless dyeing technologies in the textile industry and called for stricter chemical safety regulations, especially for the domestic market. "We are waiting for a binding chemical management rule for the textile sector. It's a public health imperative," she said.
AmCham President Syed Ershad Ahmed said Bangladesh faces a pivotal moment, balancing LDC graduation and climate commitments with the urgency of sustainable development. "Despite strong economic growth, environmental degradation poses serious risks to health, business, and investor confidence.," he said.
"While private sector efforts toward green initiatives are commendable, policy gaps and enforcement challenges persist," he added.
Reza Mahmud, country manager of Philip Morris Bangladesh Ltd, highlighted that while smoking harms health and the environment, offering less harmful alternatives like e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products can support public health.
Citing the US FDA's science-based approval of such products, he stressed that bans are not the solution. "Instead, Bangladesh should adopt a science-driven regulatory approach, as seen in countries like the USA, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia, to promote public health, generate tax revenue, curb illicit trade, and prevent youth access," he added.
Chevron Bangladesh's Corporate Affairs Director Muhammad Imrul Kabir highlighted the company's 30-year partnership with Bangladesh, with investments totalling $4.2 billion and 97% local workforce participation.
He further noted that Chevron supports over 120,000 people through healthcare, entrepreneurship, tree planting and training, aligning with nine of 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
At the event, Economist Forrest E Cookson warned of the long-term consequences of global inaction on emissions.
He said, "Bangladesh must prepare for rising heatwaves and sea levels by relocating its population northward and establishing 15 new cities."
He urged a national focus on cooling tech, skilled engineers, and a global cooling industry–stressing the need for nuclear energy, electric transport, and AI-driven infrastructure, requiring a strategic shift by the planning ministry.
