The project inception meeting of the Dhaka CALLING project was organized on Thursday on an online platform considering the current pandemic situation of COVID-19. This interactive event was vibrant with the participation of 152 participants (Male- 92, Female- 51, Other Gender- 02, PWD-04, Indigenous- 03) and shared their experiences, knowledge, opinions, and comments to guide and make bridges among the multi-stakeholder of the project, said a press release.
This meeting was held following the instruction to engage relevant stakeholders including the media and slum community leaders to share the project goal and objectives and how this project has envisioned to bring changes and set an example in the community. The welcoming remarks were given by Mr. Pavel Partha, Director, BARCIK. Following on, a presentation was presented by Mr. Suman Ahsanul Islam, Technical Advisor of DSK Consortia, illustrating the current situation of the slum area as well as how the project is going to evoke community participation in the process, that includes the marginalized groups of the community, to improve the effectiveness of environmental laws in response to pollution-focused community-identified needs.
Dhaka Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate Md Shahidul Islam inaugurated the online discussion.
MP Tanvir Shakil Joy, Member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change adorned the event as Chief Guest while Mr. Randall Olson, Director, Office of Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance, USAID was the Guest of Honor. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DNCC and Additional Secretary Md Selim Reza, Air Commodore Md. Badrul Amin, BUP, nd, afwc, psc GD(P), Chief Waste Management Officer, DSCC, Nahid Sultana Juthi, Advocate, Bangladesh Supreme Court, Awarded the Women of Inspiration Award 202, Barrister Nawsher Ali Molla, Panel Lawyer of DNCC & DSCC and Anti-Corruption Commission, Bangladesh Supreme Court, Mr. Mainuddin Ahmad, Chief of Party (COP), PAR attended the event as special guest. Mst Shamim Ahmed, Senior District Judge, Special Court number 8, Dhaka Judge.s Court, Eng. Md. Abdus Sobhan, Environmental Expert & Former Additional Director General, Department of Environment. General Secretary, POBA attended the event as expert. The event was chaired by Khondker Rebaka Sun-Yat, ED, CUP and facilitated by Sanjida Jahan Ashrafi, Consortium Coordinator, DSK.
Speakers in the meeting pointed out several issues related to slum dwellers, waste management, environmental pollution around the city which can be carried out through the project.