The word ‘Clean Cooking’ is a technology which means replacing traditional fireplaces with cleaner fuels and more energy-efficient cooking solutions can reduce smoke emissions, provide cost savings and reduce the time and resources needed to procure fuel and most importantly - saving lives.
In Bangladesh over 80% of population are without access to Clean Cooking. For this, household air pollution from cooking over smoky fires kills 75 thousand women and children every year. In connection with the issues, to create awareness among the faculties and students, a Seminar titled ‘What’s Cooking: Clean Cooking Seminar for Young Changemakers’ was held at the Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) on Monday.
Clean Cooking Alliance (CCA), Bangladesh and School of Environmental Science and Management (SESM) at IUB jointly organized the seminar. According to CCA, inefficient and dangerous cooking practices lead to deforestation and environmental degradation, while also contributing up to 25% of global black carbon emissions.
Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, former advisor to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh and founder chairman, Power & Participation Research Center was present as the chief guest.
Dr Rahman recommended to promote clean cooking campaign in various slums of Dhaka beside rural areas as these areas are more vulnerable at present. Professor M Omar Rahman, vice chancellor (VC), IUB chaired the event and emphasized on using alternative fuel rather than using coal and wood to mitigate global warming.
Abdul Karim, managing director, PKSF and Monzur Morshed Siddiqui, managing director, Total Bangladesh were present as special guests and spoke on the occasion. Mujibur Rahman, Head, Marketing & Sales, Total Bangladesh and Dr Abdul Khaleque, dean, SESM, IUB made separate presentations in the programme. Asna Towfiq, country manager, CCA gave her presentation on clean cooking scenario & its prospects in Bangladesh.
To create a buzz among the students, a quiz contest was held where 3 winners got crests and other prizes. The Champion of the competition was Rabib Hossain. The 1st and 2nd runner-ups were Rifa Nanziba and Tasnim Hasan respectively.
Professor Milan Pagon, Pro VC, IUB, members of the faculty and administration and a huge number of students attended the Seminar.
Dr Ayaz Rabbani, Head, Department of Environmental Science delivered his vote of thanks.