Speakers at the inaugural ceremony of a three-day workshop have emphasised on involving the local community in protecting the environment. They said that the local communities can be effective stewards to conserve the natural ecosystem, biodiversity, forest and environment.
“Any effort to save the environment will remain incomplete unless the local community is involved,” Sharif Jamil, member secretary of Dhoritri Rokkhay Amra (Dhora); said at the event.
The newly floated civic platform ‘Dhoritri Rokkhay Amra (We for Protecting Earth- Dhora)’ and Waterkeepers Bangladesh jointly organised the workshop titled “Importance of Environmental Protection in Sustainable Development” in Sylhet.
The opening ceremony of the workshop took place in the field adjacent to Ratargul village under Fotehpur Union of Goainghat Upazila in Sylhet on Tuesday (January 16).
The workshop was arranged aiming to increase the mutual harmony among the people and organisations that play a vital role in protecting the environment and rivers in different parts of the country. Dhora and Waterkeepers Bangladesh arranged the workshop also for including field-level recommendations in the formulation of future action plans.
It can be mentioned that it is the first outdoor event of the Dhora after its formal journey. The civic platform on environment and climate issues was launched formally on January 11.
Sultana Kamal, chairman of the advisory board of Dhora and an adviser to the former caretaker government; inaugurated the three-day workshop as the chief guest at the opening ceremony. Dr Mohammad Zahirul Haque, vice-chancellor of Metropolitan University; presided over the event.
Sharif Jamil, member secretary of Dhora and convener of Waterkeepers Bangladesh; spoke at the event as the chief discussant. Abdul Hye Al-Hadi, coordinator of environmental organisation Movement to Save Saree River (Sari Nodi Bachao Andolan); delivered the welcome speech, while Dr. Nazia Chowdhury, a professor of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST); environmental organisers Jamil Ahmed and Mustafa Shahzaman Chowdhury Bahar; officials of Forest Department Md. Salah Uddin and Abdullah Al Mamun; Md Manjur Ahmed, a former president of Goainghat Press Club; and MA Matin, incumbent president of the press club; spoke on the occasion, among others.
Speaking as the chief guest, Sultana Kamal said, “As conscious people, we have a moral responsibility to save
the earth.
We must work together to save the environment so that this world is not only for us but also for future generations to live healthy and beautiful.”
In his presidential speech, Mohammad Zahirul Haque said, “We are hopeful that we will take appropriate action from the three-day workshop to save the country’s environment in the coming days through the necessary action plan with environmental workers from different parts of the country. Climate change is a global problem. So, it needs to be addressed immediately.”
Sharif Jamil said, “All of the participants in our three-day workshop are local social leaders in certain environmentally sensitive areas. We will all strategize how to get people more involved in protecting the environment.”
Before joining the event, the guests visited the Shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) and Language Martyr Matin Uddin Ahmad Museum.
As part of the inaugural session, a newsreel exhibition on Ratargul and a discussion on ‘Importance of Environment Conservation in Sustainable Development” were held.
The three-day workshop programme includes thematic discussion, group discussion, cultural performance and visits to important sites.
This strategic workshop has been organised for three days to make the organisers more efficient in environmental protection, said Sharif Jamil.
