Syeda Rizwana Hasan (born 15 January 1968) is a Bangladeshi lawyer and environmentalist. She is currently an adviser to the interim government of Bangladesh and as Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.[2] As an environmentalist, her work is focused on regulations for the shipbreaking industry in Bangladesh, and was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2009.[3] She was also awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2012 for her "uncompromising courage and impassioned leadership in a campaign of judicial activism in Bangladesh that affirms the people's right to a good environment as nothing less than their right to dignity and life."[4]
Hasan got involved in the shipbreaking industry, first suing the breaking yards in Chittagong in 2003 for, among other reasons, bringing health hazards to the workers, poor working conditions, and improper waste disposal. In response, in March 2003 the court declared shipbreaking without an environmental clearance from the appropriate department illegal.[5] Hasan continues to strive for more labour rights and a safer working environment in the industry.[6] She has also successfully sued organizations involved in filling lakes to build real estate, the improper use of polythene, hill cutting, deforestation, shrimp farming, and building illegal establishments on St. Martin's Island.[5]
Hasan was born in Habiganj to the parents Syed Mahibul Hasan and Suraiya Hasan.[5] She married her classmate lawyer-entrepreneur Abu Bakar Siddique, and has a daughter, Nehla Siddique and two sons, Ahmed Zarir Siddique and Ahmed Zeedan Siddique.[8] In April 2014, her husband Siddique, managing director of a garment factory owned by Nasrul Hamid Bipu, was briefly abducted by unknown individuals.[11][12]
Her first cousin Syed Liaquat Hasan is the current Upazila Chairman of Chunarughat Upazila, Habiganj.
Selected works
Laws & decision on compensation in Bangladesh, 2001
Judicial decisions on environment in South Asia : up to 2000, 2005
Judicial decisions on environment in South Asia, 2001-2004, 2006
^ abSarmiento, Christine Joy (26 July 2012). "2012 Ramon Magsaysay Award winners announced". Asian Journal. Archived from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2012. Syeda Rizwana Hasan, from Bangladesh, is being recognized for 'her uncompromising courage and impassioned leadership in a campaign of judicial activism in Bangladesh that affirms the people's right to a good environment as nothing less than their right to dignity and life.'
^ abcdef"Belar Shonge Rizwana". Dainik Kaler Kontho. 21 October 2010.