Environment, forest and climate change and water resources adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Saturday said that safeguarding the environment and addressing climate change must be given the highest priority to protect the country’s future and the generations to come.

Delivering the convocation address at Convocation 2025 of Stamford University Bangladesh at the Bashundhara International Convention Centre in Dhaka, she said that building an environment-friendly, humane and women-friendly society required responsible engagement from everyone in their respective roles.

‘We must act now. The Bangladesh we know today-our children may not see the same map if we fail to respond promptly,’ she warned.

Rizwana Hasan said that challenges such as air pollution, deforestation and river pollution could not be solved overnight but could be addressed gradually through sustained effort.

‘River restoration activities are already underway, while legal and policy reforms for environmental protection are progressing,’ she noted, adding that with proper cooperation, these initiatives would advance more swiftly.

Highlighting the importance of compassion and animal welfare, she said, ‘Our faith teaches us to show compassion to animals. Yet we often act with cruelty-not only towards people but towards animals as well. A humane society must show kindness to all living beings and to nature.’

She underscored the vital role of families, society and educational institutions in nurturing a better generation, saying that building a just and equitable Bangladesh required positive change within individuals.

Despite injustice and challenges in the past, she said that people’s aspirations have repeatedly shown the way toward progress.

Expressing concern over widespread negative propaganda, she urged everyone to remain vigilant and uphold positivity. ‘We want a society free of discrimination. Politics must centre on people’s rights and empowerment.’

She said that Bangladesh’s problems ran deep and could not be solved within one or two years, stressing that every citizen must fulfil their responsibilities from their respective positions.

Presiding over the convocation, Salehuddin Ahmed, adviser to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Science and Technology, urged the graduates to take responsibility, think and work for society, remain diligent, dream big and dedicate themselves to serving humanity.

A total of 1,407 graduates from five faculties and 14 departments received degrees at the convocation.

Ten students received the chancellor’s gold medal for achieving the highest CGPA, while 40 students were awarded the vice-chancellor’s gold medal.

Environment, forest and climate change and water resources adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Saturday said that safeguarding the environment and addressing climate change must be given the highest priority to protect the country’s future and the generations to come.

Delivering the convocation address at Convocation 2025 of Stamford University Bangladesh at the Bashundhara International Convention Centre in Dhaka, she said that building an environment-friendly, humane and women-friendly society required responsible engagement from everyone in their respective roles.

‘We must act now. The Bangladesh we know today-our children may not see the same map if we fail to respond promptly,’ she warned.

Rizwana Hasan said that challenges such as air pollution, deforestation and river pollution could not be solved overnight but could be addressed gradually through sustained effort.

‘River restoration activities are already underway, while legal and policy reforms for environmental protection are progressing,’ she noted, adding that with proper cooperation, these initiatives would advance more swiftly.

Highlighting the importance of compassion and animal welfare, she said, ‘Our faith teaches us to show compassion to animals. Yet we often act with cruelty-not only towards people but towards animals as well. A humane society must show kindness to all living beings and to nature.’

She underscored the vital role of families, society and educational institutions in nurturing a better generation, saying that building a just and equitable Bangladesh required positive change within individuals.

Despite injustice and challenges in the past, she said that people’s aspirations have repeatedly shown the way toward progress.

Expressing concern over widespread negative propaganda, she urged everyone to remain vigilant and uphold positivity. ‘We want a society free of discrimination. Politics must centre on people’s rights and empowerment.’

She said that Bangladesh’s problems ran deep and could not be solved within one or two years, stressing that every citizen must fulfil their responsibilities from their respective positions.

Presiding over the convocation, Salehuddin Ahmed, adviser to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Science and Technology, urged the graduates to take responsibility, think and work for society, remain diligent, dream big and dedicate themselves to serving humanity.

A total of 1,407 graduates from five faculties and 14 departments received degrees at the convocation.

Ten students received the chancellor’s gold medal for achieving the highest CGPA, while 40 students were awarded the vice-chancellor’s gold medal.