Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Water Resources, has called for sincere practice of social responsibility to achieve the Three Zeros—zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero net carbon emissions—rather than just verbal commitment. Advisor Rizwana addressed leaders from across the Muslim world on the urgent need to tackle poverty, joblessness, and environmental degradation through genuine social business models.
Environment Advisor said this while speaking as the chief guest at the International Social Business Summit (ISBS) 2025: NGO Leadership for the Three Zeros in the Muslim World, held at Hotel Bengal Blueberry in Gulshan, Dhaka,
“What we need most is not just uttering values, but practicing them,” she said, emphasizing that real change comes only when ethical principles are acted upon.
In a powerful address, Advisor Rezwana urged the global community to challenge ultra-capitalism, which she said has severely damaged natural resources and created deep inequities. “If we don’t correct our current models of operation, we won’t be able to save the planet. Many countries will go underwater by the end of this century, and entire civilizations will disappear.”
She stressed the urgent need to rethink our consumption patterns and differentiate between real needs and overconsumption. “We must redefine necessity versus excess—and we must stop wars, permanently.”
Drawing on Islamic values, she highlighted that the roots of social business align with Islamic teachings. “Islam calls for action, not just preaching. It speaks clearly against inequity, and the idea of social business is not to profit by creating misery. It is about earning with the intention of giving back, not hoarding wealth.”
Advisor Hasan also lamented the lack of unified voice from the Muslim world in times of humanitarian crises. “Why is it that many Muslim countries remain silent when innocent Palestinians are being killed? Brotherhood without moral courage is meaningless,” she said.
She praised the Islamic system of Zakat as a powerful, time-tested model for equitable wealth distribution, contrasting it with modern taxation systems. “When we pay taxes, we expect the state to support the poor. Yet, public funds often go to mega projects that fail to uplift the vulnerable.”
Calling for broader human unity, Advisor said, “We are not supposed to hate or discriminate. We are meant to speak from compassion, embrace diversity, and value all communities.”
The summit featured distinguished guests including Prof. Dr. Halis Yunus Ersöz, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Türkiye; Prof. Dr. Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, Vice-Chancellor, North South University & Chairman, Board of Directors, Grameen Bank; Eyup Akbal, Secretary General, Union of NGOs of the Islamic World (UNIW), Türkiye & Chairman, Fuzul Savings Finance Inc.; S M Rasheduzzaman, Member, High Advisory Board, UNIW & Chairman, SAWAB; Dr. M Abdul Aziz, Country Representative, IIIT & Director General, BIIT and Dr. Ali Afzal, Council Member, UNIW & Managing Director, Krishibid Group
The summit served as a powerful platform to foster collaboration among Muslim nations to lead global efforts toward equity, sustainability, and justice.