Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources, has said that ensuring women’s health and empowerment is essential for achieving sustainable development. She emphasized that caring for women is not only a social duty but also a prerequisite for national progress, as true empowerment cannot be achieved without ensuring women’s access to proper healthcare.

She made these remarks while addressing as the Chief Guest at the event titled “Joining Hands for Improving Women’s Healthcare in Bangladesh” held this evening at the Westin Hotel in Dhaka.

Highlighting the challenges faced by women in Bangladesh’s coastal areas, the Environment Advisor said that salinity, lack of safe drinking water, and reproductive health complications severely affect women’s well-being. She called for innovative measures such as mobile clinics and floating hospitals to extend healthcare services to remote and climate-vulnerable areas.

Referring to the dedicated health workers serving in the Rohingya camps and other remote regions, she remarked that “those providing care in such difficult circumstances are truly working on the frontline of humanity.”

Terming reproductive health as a topic that should never be treated as ‘taboo,’ she said that children must be educated from an early age about hygiene, reproductive health, and self-awareness. “We need open discussions, not silence, on women’s health,” she added.

Drawing from her personal observations, Rizwana Hasan noted that reproductive and maternal healthcare still remains a luxury for many in Bangladesh. “To ensure women’s well-being, families, communities, and the state must all act more responsibly,” she stated.

She also cautioned against the growing culture of negativity in society, saying that genuine progress requires faith, hope, and optimism. “Women’s health and education are the foundation of that positive transformation,” she observed.

The event was also addressed by Professor Dr. Md. Abu Jafor, Director General, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS); Dr. Ashrafi Ahmad, ndc, Director General, Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP); and representatives from Marie Stopes Clinic.

A special tribute was given to Professor Dr. Farhana Dewan in recognition of her achievement in receiving the FIGO Women’s Award 2025.