Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has urged the Public Works Department (PWD) to ensure that all government buildings are designed, constructed and retrofitted as green buildings.
She called for clear directives to enforce the requirement and instructed PWD to prepare a comprehensive Green Building Manual within one month.
No ministry or department should be allowed to bypass green-building standards, she said, adding that mandatory guidelines would promote reduced water consumption, greater access to natural light, and the adoption of modern, environment-friendly construction practices.
Rizwana Hasan made the remarks at a seminar titled "Environment Management, Green Procurement and Green Building" held at the PWD headquarters in Dhaka.
The adviser stressed the need to modernise the construction sector and introduce necessary reforms to government policies. 
Lakes, she noted, exist for the public, not as drainage channels, and development must not come at the cost of nature or through commercial activities that harm the environment.
She also underscored the importance of clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of communities and government agencies.
Referring to illegal brick kilns, she said kilns set up on paddy fields have caused fires and severe pollution, destroying greenery. 
Since taking office, she has overseen the highest number of brick kiln demolitions in the country’s history. However, she emphasised that enforcement alone cannot solve the problem unless alternative technologies and materials are promoted.
Brick kiln demolition, she said, is not a permanent solution. Sustainable progress requires mandating the use of concrete blocks. 
She urged RAJUK to require a certain percentage of block use in building construction and noted that the government, as the largest purchaser of bricks, must lead efforts to promote alternative materials.
Speaking at the event, Housing and Public Works Adilur Rahman Khan said that many public buildings, including hospitals, prisons, courts and orphanages, remain in poor condition and need to be renovated or rebuilt in environmentally sustainable ways.
He also called for the restoration of urban water bodies and stressed that government buildings must be reconstructed to support ecological balance.
The seminar was addressed by Housing and Public Works Secretary Md Nazrul Islam,  RAJUK Chairman Engineer Reazul Islam, Chief Architect Md Asifur Rahman Bhuiyan, and Director of the Urban Development Directorate Mahmud Ali. 
The session was moderated by PWD Chief Engineer Md Khalequezzaman Choudhury.