Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan urged the Public Works Department to make all government buildings green and asked officials to prepare a Green Building Manual within one month, a call she said would save water, cut energy use, reduce pollution and make public spaces healthier for people and nature. She spoke at a seminar on environment management, green procurement and green building and said the rules must be mandatory so no ministry or department can bypass them. Rizwana explained that green standards will promote natural light, lower water consumption and encourage modern, environment-friendly construction methods. She said the construction sector needs modernization and policy reform so projects move ahead without harming natural areas. She warned that lakes are meant for people and nature and not for drainage or commercial filling, and she called for restoring urban water bodies. The adviser highlighted the damage from illegal brick kilns on paddy fields, which cause fires and heavy pollution, and she said removing kilns is not enough without promoting cleaner kiln technology and safer materials. Housing and Public Works and Industries Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan said many public buildings, including hospitals, prisons, courts and orphanages, need careful renovation or rebuilding in environmentally sustainable ways. Senior officials, the chief architect and RAJUK representatives joined the discussion and spoke about design standards, planning steps and how green procurement can be added to public projects. Presenters delivered practical briefings on a construction site environment management plan, a plan to improve the water quality of Dhanmondi Lake and how procurement rules under PPR 2025 can support green building. Panelists urged clear division of responsibilities between government and communities so local people can help care for shared water bodies and public spaces. They also stressed that training and new building standards can create local jobs, encourage the use of tested low-impact materials and reduce health risks from smoke and pollution. Officials said simple checks during construction and better record keeping will help spot problems early and keep costs down. Speakers recommended that the Public Works Department work with local groups and experts to set clear timelines, offer technical support and ensure new buildings use approved methods. The seminar closed with a practical message that a mix of strong rules, public engagement, steady training and incentives for green choices can protect lakes, cut kiln smoke and help build safer, energy-efficient government facilities now.
