Staff Reporter:
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources, has emphasised the need to build a national consensus for reforms.
Unity is essential in various areas, including communal harmony, political reform and ensuring the inclusion of the aspirations of the younger generation in governance, she said this while speaking at the first session of the National Dialogue 2024, held under the theme “Unity, Reform, Elections” and titled “Which Path to Unity,” at the Krishibid Institution Auditorium in Dhaka on Friday.
Decisions on what reforms are necessary, who will implement them, how they will be carried out, and within what timeframe must be made, she said.
Failure to meet public expectations will lead to repeated political instability and complications, she said.
Addressing the broader responsibility for change, she noted that it is not just the task of an interim government but a collective obligation.
She also underscored the importance of public engagement in governance, noting that although the need for reform is widely acknowledged, the path forward remains challenging.
She warned that breaking away from entrenched political norms or eliminating inequalities will not happen overnight.
Keeping faith in young leadership, Rizwana stated, “I remain optimistic and hopeful about the youth. Major changes are likely to come from them because they bring fresh perspectives and innovative approaches. However, change is a process—it cannot be achieved solely through new laws. Training ourselves to sustain this process is vital, and both youth and experienced individuals have roles to play.”
