Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has said that constructing environment-friendly buildings is no longer an option but a national necessity, stressing that true “green buildings” must integrate environmental principles at every stage — from design to operation.

A building cannot be called ‘green’ merely by using special paint or getting a certificate. Environmental technologies and sustainability practices must be embedded throughout its lifecycle,” said Rizwana Hasan, who serves as Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources.

She was addressing a workshop titled “Green Building” organised by the Department of Environment (DoE) in Agargaon on Sunday morning as the Chief Guest.

The Environment Adviser underscored the need to make green building standards mandatory for all government infrastructures, saying, “Once the government sets the standard through its own projects, the private sector will naturally follow.”

Highlighting the link between sustainable architecture and urban resilience, Rizwana Hasan said that protecting Dhaka’s canals and rivers, cutting down waste and noise pollution, and controlling urban heat islands are impossible without eco-friendly construction practices.

She called for integrating rooftop solar power, rainwater harvesting, and the use of natural light and ventilation into all building designs.

Proposing the formation of a Green Building Council, Rizwana Hasan said the council should include representatives from the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, Department of Environment, Housing and Building Research Institute (HBRI), Local Government Division, and other relevant agencies. The body would set national standards, update legal frameworks, and ensure effective enforcement.