WWW

On the 5th of July 2005, Monday a meeting was organized at the Australian National University to discuss and to explore the ways for getting involved to work on the Bangladesh environmental issues. Local Bangladeshi community living in Canberra attended the meeting. Dr Nazrul Islam spoke about the Bangladesh Environmental Network (BEN) activities around the world and call Australian Bangladeshi community to come forward to help and address few issues related to environment. Mr Kamrul Ahsan Khan, BEN member introduced Dr Nazrul Islam emphasising the importance of building net work all over Australia To take active part in positive work for Bangladesh. This meeting was also address by scientist Dr abed choudhury, seniors lecturer Dr Milton Hasnat, Dr Hilal Ahammad, Mr ahmed Imran ,Mss Nazmun Ratna, Mr Lokman Hussain, Mr Shadap Parvez, Mr Zobaid and many others.

Meeting with Bangladesh community Mr Islam warned environmental degradation can stifle Bangladesh's economic growth from the side effects of poisonous air, uncollected garbage, and lack of open space, polluted and dying water bodies, congestion, noise, and traffic jam.

He added that these problems pose a greater threat to Bangladesh in particular, because of the country's small landmass, population density and rapidly developing industry. Islam also warned of the fallacies that currently exist in treatment of environmental issues in economics.

Discussions was held during seminars discussants provided various recommendations that centred around steps to increase environmental awareness from the grassroots, the mass media, non-resident Bangladesh, through to receiving the endorsement of political leaders in Bangladesh Participants were enthusiastic to build up a network

and to actively participate to address the environmental issues in Bangladesh.

Few more meetings are going to be held building network in all the major cities of Australia .

Earlier to this meeting, a seminar was arranged by the Australian National University. Dr Nazrul presented the key note paper on Vietnam. The seminar was attended by the Honourable high commissioner of Bangladesh in Australia. Mr Ashrafudowla and other scholars and students of the University. Mr Dowla spoke in this seminar. Participating this type of seminar by Bangladesh high commissioner was appreciated by ANU authority and also by the Bangladeshi community .

Kamrul Ahsan Khan

Canberra, Australia

Kamrul_k@hotmail.com

61 0401 683 930(M)