Rizwana Hasan
Encyclopedia
Syeda Rizwana Hasan is an attorney and environmentalist from Bangladesh
. She has particularly focused on regulations for the shipbreaking industry in Bangladesh, and was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize
in 2009.
for her secondary education and Holy Cross College
for her higher secondary education, before attending Dhaka University for her bachelor and masters degree in law. She completed an Eisenhower Fellowship in the United States in 2009.
(BELA) in July, 1993, when BELA was an infant organisation. She came in spotlight in 1994 when she successfully sued mayoral candidates in Dhaka for the violation of the Environment Act 1860 during their campaigns in Old Dhaka. After the Court deemed such actions by the candidates against public interest, Bangladesh Election Commission
set out guidelines to monitor environmental hazards brought by election campaigns. In 1997, upon the death of BELA's Convener Mahiuddin Faruk, Hasan forwent a Commonwealth Scholarship
to take over as BELA's CEO.
She then 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, for poor working conditions and for improper waste disposal. In response, the Court, within March 2003 had declared shipbreaking without an Environmental Clearance from the appropriate department illegal. Hasan continues to strive for more labour rights and safer working environment in the industry. She has also successfully sued organisations involved in filling lakes to build real estate, improper use of polythene, hill cutting, deforestation
, shrimp farming and building illegal establishments in the St. Martin's Island
.
She has also been dubbed as a Hero of Environment
by the American news magazine TIME.
, Dhaka
to Mahibul and Suraiya Hasan, and hails from the district of Habiganj. She married her classmate lawyer-entrepreneur Abu Bakr Siddique, and has a daughter and two sons.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
. She has particularly focused on regulations for the shipbreaking industry in Bangladesh, and was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize
Goldman Environmental Prize
The Goldman Environmental Prize is a prize awarded annually to grassroots environmental activists, one from each of the world's six geographic regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Islands and Island Nations, North America, and South and Central America. The prize includes a no-strings-attached award of...
in 2009.
Education
She attended Viqarunnisa Noon SchoolViqarunnisa Noon School
Viqarunnisa Noon School is an all-girls school in Bailey Road, Dhaka, Bangladesh; it has about 10,000 students and links with the history of the entire South Asian subcontinent.- History :...
for her secondary education and Holy Cross College
Holy Cross College
Holy Cross College may refer to:*Holy Cross College , Bangladesh*Holy Cross College , in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States*Holy Cross College , Western Province, Sri Lanka*Holy Cross College...
for her higher secondary education, before attending Dhaka University for her bachelor and masters degree in law. She completed an Eisenhower Fellowship in the United States in 2009.
Work
Hasan joined Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers AssociationBangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association
Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association , in short BELA , one of the leading nonprofit organization of lawyears, established in 1992 to provide judicial assistance in saving environment, and achieved the 'Global 500 Roll of Honour' under United Nations Environmental Program in 2003...
(BELA) in July, 1993, when BELA was an infant organisation. She came in spotlight in 1994 when she successfully sued mayoral candidates in Dhaka for the violation of the Environment Act 1860 during their campaigns in Old Dhaka. After the Court deemed such actions by the candidates against public interest, Bangladesh Election Commission
Bangladesh Election Commission
The Bangladesh Election Commission is an independent constitutional body of the nation of Bangladesh that operates the legal functions of Election law in that South Asian county....
set out guidelines to monitor environmental hazards brought by election campaigns. In 1997, upon the death of BELA's Convener Mahiuddin Faruk, Hasan forwent a Commonwealth Scholarship
Commonwealth Scholarship
The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan is an international programme under which Commonwealth governments offer scholarships and fellowships to citizens of other Commonwealth countries.-History:...
to take over as BELA's CEO.
She then got involved in the shipbreaking industry, first suing the breaking yards in Chittagong
Chittagong
Chittagong ) is a city in southeastern Bangladesh and the capital of an eponymous district and division. Built on the banks of the Karnaphuli River, the city is home to Bangladesh's busiest seaport and has a population of over 4.5 million, making it the second largest city in the country.A trading...
in 2003 for among other reasons, bringing health hazards to the workers, for poor working conditions and for improper waste disposal. In response, the Court, within March 2003 had declared shipbreaking without an Environmental Clearance from the appropriate department illegal. Hasan continues to strive for more labour rights and safer working environment in the industry. She has also successfully sued organisations involved in filling lakes to build real estate, improper use of polythene, hill cutting, deforestation
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
, shrimp farming and building illegal establishments in the St. Martin's Island
St. Martin's Island
St. Martin's Island is a small island in the northheast part of the Bay of Bengal, about 9 km south of the tip of the Cox's Bazar-Teknaf peninsula, and forming the southernmost part of Bangladesh. It is not a coral island in Bangladesh. It is about 8 km west of the northwest coast of...
.
Publications
Besides the many publications through BELA, she herself has published the following:- Laws Regulating Environment in Bangladesh, and
- Judicial Decisions on Environment in South Asia.
Awards
Under Hasan's leadership, BELA won the Global 500 Roll of Honor in 2003 by the United Nations Environment Program. She herself won:- The Inaugural Environment Award in 2007, by the Ministry of Forestry and Environment, Government of Bangladesh, for raising environmental awareness.
- Celebrating Womenhood Award in 2008 by the NepalNepalNepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
-based Creative Statements and South Asia Partnership - The Goldman Environmental PrizeGoldman Environmental PrizeThe Goldman Environmental Prize is a prize awarded annually to grassroots environmental activists, one from each of the world's six geographic regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Islands and Island Nations, North America, and South and Central America. The prize includes a no-strings-attached award of...
in 2009.
She has also been dubbed as a Hero of Environment
Heroes of the Environment (2009)
Heroes of the Environment is a list published in Time Magazine. The third list was published in September 2009. The list contains 30 entries, individuals or groups that have contributed substantially to the preservation of environment, and is divided into four categories: Leaders & Visionaries,...
by the American news magazine TIME.
Personal life
Hasan was born in DhanmondiDhanmondi Thana
Dhanmondi is one of the most crowded planned areas in Dhaka city. Its origins can be traced back to the late 1950s, beginning as an affluent residential area, and over the decades evolving into a miniature city, where one can find everything from hospitals to malls, schools, banks, offices and...
, Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
to Mahibul and Suraiya Hasan, and hails from the district of Habiganj. She married her classmate lawyer-entrepreneur Abu Bakr Siddique, and has a daughter and two sons.