Chief Executive of BELA

Syeda Rizwana Hasan is the Chief Executive of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA). A Supreme Court lawyer with a law degree from the University of Dhaka, she has been fighting for environmental justice in Bangladesh since 1993. Her notable legal victories include cases against river pollution, illegal wetland development, deforestation, and unregulated industrial practices.

Major recognitions:
– Goldman Environmental Prize (2009)
– Ramon Magsaysay Award (2012)
– Named one of 40 Environmental Heroes by TIME magazine
– International Women of Courage Award (2022)
– Tang Award for Rule of Law (2020, with BELA)

She serves as a visiting faculty at several universities and holds board positions in various NGOs.

She is currently an adviser to the interim government of Bangladesh and as Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

• Affiliation of Syeda Rizwana Hasan 
• Member, Executive Committee, BELA 
• Chairperson, Rangpur Dinajpur Rural Service (RDRS) 
• Treasurer, Friends in Village Development Bangladesh (FIVDB) 
• Member, Governing Body of BRAC 
• Member, Executive Board of the NGO Forum on Ship-breaking 
• Member, Board of the South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE) 
• Member, Supreme Court Bar Association 
• Member, Dhaka Bar Association 
• Member, Committee on Legal Protection of the Disabled of the National Forum of Organizations Working with the Disabled 
• Member, Workers Safety Forum 
• Member, Nijera Kori 
• Member, Association of Land Reforms and Development (ALRD) 
• Member, Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (E-LAW) 
• Member, Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) Former 
• Member, Executive Committee, Friends of the Earth International (FoEI)