Discussion Meeting held
on The Environmental Problems in Bangladesh
On
Saturday, the 17th of July 2005, a discussion meeting has held at
the Toongabbie Anglican Church Hall in Pendle Hill. Prof Nazrul Islam, an
expatriate Bangladeshi talent delivered this high quality talk. Prof Islam
is the Research Professor and Head of the Quantitative Analysis Section of
the International Centre for the Study of East Asian Development at Kyushu
University, Japan.
Sydney’s
environmental professionals and enthusiasts from Bangladeshi origin attended
this informal but very well organised meeting. Prof Islam’s details talk
contained highlights of several successful initiatives that expatriate
Bangladeshis assisted with and persuaded in to happen in Bangladesh.
Following his elaborate talk and a short tea-break, participants got
introduced and asked many questions on the current environmental problems in
Bangladesh. Dr Mamata Chowdhury and Dr Vincent Gomes took notes of the
discussion. It is expected that the organisers will soon circulate the
proceedings of the meeting.
Bangladesh
Environment Network (BEN), a web-based environmental advocacy and awareness
campaign initiative, has been behind some of the successes mentioned by Prof
Islam. He has been coordinating this challenging task since 1998. For more
information on BEN, search www.ben.org.
At
this meeting Prof Nazrul Islam was introduced by Dr Debashish Mazumder in
front of a small but very caring audience. Ms Lubna Sharmeen Shetu read the
written message that the Honourable High Commissioner of Bangladesh Mr
Ashraf-ud-Doula has sent addressing the audience. Shetu’s sister Ritu gave
Prof Islam a flower bouquet as a token of love and respect for his
outstanding contributions for Bangladesh’s environment. Dr Ronald Patra
presided over the meeting and Dr Swapan Paul conducted it.
-Kamrul
Ahsan
