Kamrul
Ahsan Khan
Co-ordinator,
BEN Australia
Australian
BEN members contribute towards environment movement in Bangladesh!
As part of
its annual fund drive for 2006, Bangladesh
Environment Network (BEN) collected $1125 from its members in
Australia, BEN is a net work of non-resident Bangladeshis and their
international friends committed to help Bangladesh confront her
environmental problems. BEN is a global network, spreading from the US to
Japan and having members in many countries in between, including a large
contingent in Australia. BEN uses Internet to establish connection among
NRBs and their international friends and mobilize their resources for the
cause of Bangladesh’s environment. BEN has been active in Australia for
about six years now, and BEN members in Australia have participated in BEN
annual fund drives in previous years too.
BEN
activities in Australia got an impetus last year from a visit by BEN
Coordinator, Prof. Nazrul Islam. During his visit, seminars and meetings
were organized in Canberra, Sydney, and Melbourne to discuss growing
environmental problems of Bangladesh and how non-resident Bangladeshis can
contribute to solving these problems. The news about these seminars was
widely covered by Bangladeshi websites in Australia. Several Bangladeshi
radio stations broadcasted interviews with Prof. Nazrul Islam. Many
mainstream Australian journalists and social activists have also shown
interest in participating in the work of BEN.
BEN has
played a crucial role in bringing pro-environment forces of Bangladesh
together and initiating a united nationwide environment movement in
Bangladesh, as represented by Bangladesh
Poribesh Andolon (BAPA). Campaigns launched by BAPA have played a
crucial role in bringing about several positive changes such as (i)
introduction of unleaded gasoline, (ii) eradication of the two-stroke
engines vehicles (scooters), (iii) imposition of ban on the use of plastic
bags, and (iv) demolition of many river encroaching structures. In general
thanks to BAPA activities, there is now a much higher awareness about
environmental issues in Bangladesh. BEN-BAPA cooperation is one of the
pioneering success stories of NRB-RB cooperation in addressing
Bangladesh’s problems. The prospects of this cooperation are bright.
BEN is an
entirely member-supported organization with zero overhead costs. The fund
raised by BEN is channeled to Bangladesh to support the work of BAPA and
other pro-environment projects. BEN accounts are audited and are open to
the public. (For more information, please contact BEN Treasurer, Mr.
Muhitur Rahman at muhit@cinci.rr.com)
The BEN team
of Australia thanks all who participated in the BEN 2006 fundraising. We
hope that more NRBs in Australia will come forward and take part in this
noble effort to save Bangladesh’s environment. To join BEN please send
an e-mail to either Prof. Nazrul Islam at s_n_islam@yahoo.com
or Mr. Kamrul Ahsan Khan at kamrulahsan@yahoo.com
or visit www.BEN-Center.org .)
