All government buildings should be constructed or converted as green structures, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, said today (16 November).

"No ministry or department can remain outside the green building framework. With mandatory guidelines, it is possible to ensure reduced water use, adequate natural light and modern environment-friendly construction practices," she said while addressing a seminar on "Environmental Management, Green Procurement and Green Building" at the Public Works Department's conference room in Dhaka.

She also instructed the Public Works Department to prepare a complete green building manual within one month.

Rizwana Hasan said she had dismantled the highest number of brick kilns since taking responsibility at the ministry. "We are not even promoting block – an alternative to bricks – properly. This Tom-and-Jerry situation cannot continue. The government and agencies must fix a minimum percentage for block use. Without reducing usage, shutting brick kilns alone cannot stop soil burning," she said.

She noted that if block use is fixed at 30% this year, brick production will decrease by at least 30% next year. "This is how the reduction can be achieved," she added.

She also urged Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) to make block use mandatory in building construction, saying the government is the largest buyer of bricks and therefore plays a crucial role in promoting and using alternative materials.

Rizwana Hasan said that modernising the country's construction sector requires changes in government policy. Lakes, she said, are not meant for drainage systems but for people.

"Nature cannot be destroyed in the name of development for commercial activities," she said, adding that the boundaries of responsibility between communities and the government must be made clear.

Housing and Public Works Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan said the current condition of government hospitals, prisons, courts and orphanages is not satisfactory and must be renovated or rebuilt into modern, environment-friendly structures.

He also called for restoring water bodies in the capital and emphasised the need to rebuild all government buildings in ways that support environmental protection.

Housing and Public Works Secretary Md Nazrul Islam said that during his time as the administrator of Dhaka South City Corporation, he found many sites occupied without leases.

"Some of these spaces are maintained by influential groups. They have still not been freed. Even officials in my own ministry do not cooperate in reclaiming them," he said.

"The ministry will discuss the matter with the city corporation. If conditions are breached in maintaining assets such as lakes, fields and parks, the agreements will be cancelled and the properties reclaimed," he added.

Rajuk Chairman Engr Md Reazul Islam said the city corporation was tasked with maintaining lakes and parks, but violated the conditions and built various structures, leasing out these spaces.

Citing an example, he said, "I have reclaimed Shahid Tajuddin Ahmed Memorial Park in Gulshan. It had been leased to a youth club and turned into a private space with structures. I sealed it today. We will restore the field for children."

He said Dhaka's lakes will serve no purpose unless they are connected to rivers. "Why was Hatirjheel built, and what is happening now? Household sewage is falling into it. We need combined action and coordinated efforts," he added.

Adviser Rizwana