DHAKA: Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Chief Executive of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), has attained Magsaysay Awards-2012.
The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation announced Wednesday the six individuals who will receive the award what is widely regarded as Asia’s Nobel Prize.
Rizwana Hasan, is 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.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan is an attorney and environmentalist of Bangladesh.
She was born in January 15, 1968, Dhaka, hailed from Habiganj district. Rizwana attained her bachelor and masters degree in Law from Dhaka University.
She completed an Eisenhower Fellowship in the United States in 2009. Hasan joined Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) in July, 1993.
In 1997, upon the death of BELA`s Convener Mahiuddin Faruk, Hasan forwent a Commonwealth Scholarship to take over as BELA`s CEO.
Hasan continues to strive for more labour rights and safer working environment in shipbreaking industry in Bangladesh.
She has also successfully sued organisations involved in improper use of polythene, hill cutting, deforestation, shrimp farming and building illegal establishments in the St. Martin`s Island.
Under Hasan’s leadership, BELA won the Global 500 Roll of Honor in 2003 by the United Nations Environment Program.
Ministry of Forests and Environment of Bangladesh government awarded her ‘The Inaugural Environment Award’ in 2007 for raising environmental awareness.
She also received Womenhood Award in 2008 by the Nepal-based Creative Statements and South Asia Partnership.
In 2009, Rizwana was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize.
She has also been dubbed as a Hero of Environment by the world renowned American news magazine TIME.
Rizwana married her classmate lawyer-entrepreneur Abu Bakr Siddique. She has a daughter and two sons.
BDST: 1750 HRS, JUL 25, 2012
Edited by: Mohammed Humayun Kabir, Sr Newsroom Editor/ M. Mahbub Alam, Asst Output Editor
All rights reserved. Sale, redistribution or reproduction of information/photos/illustrations/video/audio contents on this website in any form without prior permission from banglanews24.com are strictly prohibited and liable to legal action.
