20th Anniversary of Bangladesh Environmental Network (BEN) will be held in Jackson Heights, New York on Saturday, June 30, 2018. The anniversary event will provide an opportunity to look back BEN’s works, successes, challenges since its start in 1998. Experts, activists, members, supporters will present their work and tell their stories at the day-long event. The event is free and open to all.
Program:
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9:30 am
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Registration starts
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10:00 am–11:30 am
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Children’s essay and drawing competition
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11:30 am–1:00 pm
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Opening session
– Presentation on Bangladesh Environmental Network (BEN)
– Greetings from Bangladeshi and international environmental organizations
– Opening cultural program
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1:00 pm–1:30 pm
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Video presentations
– 24 hours at St. Martin’s Island (Sarah Cameron Sunde)
– The struggle to revive the Baral River
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1:30 pm–3:00 pm
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First symposium on Bangladesh environment issues
– Dr. Khalequzzaman (Lock Haven University): Flood and other problems of the Haor area
– Dr. Abul Hussam (George Mason University): The arsenic problem in Bangladesh: current status and future prospects
– Dr. Sufian Khondker (Arcadis): Green infrastructure to alleviate water-logging of Dhaka city
– Engr. Taqsem Khan (Dhaka WASA): Dhaka WASA’s experience in providing drinking water sewerage service
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3:00 pm–3:30 pm
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Poetry Recitation
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3:30 pm–5:00 pm
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Second symposium on Bangladesh environment issues
– Dr. Ahmed Badruzzaman (UC-Berkeley): Issues of nuclear power generation in Bangladesh
– Dr. Sajed Kamal (Brandeis University): Current status and future prospects of solar energy in Bangladesh
– Dr. Dipen Bhattacharya (Riverside College): Role of sedimentation in protecting Bengal delta from submergence due to climate change
– Dr. Khondoker Mokaddem Hossain (Open University, Bangladesh): The impact of climate change on the coastal people’s livelihood in Bangladesh
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5:00 pm–5:30 pm
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Prize distribution to winners of children’s competitions
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5:30 pm–6:45 pm
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Discussion on experience and lessons of Bangladesh environment movement
– Dr. Abdul Matin, General Secretary, Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA)
– Dr. Saleh Tanveer, Chair, BEN Expert Panels and Treasurer, BEN
– Sharif Jamil, Joint Secretary, Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA)
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6:45 pm–7:30 pm
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Discussion on the role of next of NRBs (Non-resident Bangladeshis) in the environment movement
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7:30 pm–9:30 pm
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Cultural program (Drama, Music, Dance)
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Venue:
School Auditorium, P.S. 69
77-02, 37 Avenue, Jackson Heights, NY 11372
Stop Rampal, Save Sundarbans – NYC Protest will be attended by Bangladeshi community living in New York. The event is organized to inform the public, create awareness and protest against the proposed coal based, coal depended power plant that has been in development in the Sundarbans area, a UNESCO World Heritage site, in Bangladesh. The project is considered as a danger of to the entire biodiversity and eco-system of the Sundarbans – the home of Bengal Tigers and many species with few numbers.
Stop Rampal, Save Sundarbans – NYC Protest will coordinated with protests scheduled at the same day in Bangladesh. Save Sundarbans, Save Bangladesh activists and concerned citizens called for a Global Day of Protest on January 7th to raise a collective voice to save the Sundarbans. UNESCO and IUCN have recommended to cancel the Rampal power plant project and to relocate to a more suitable location.
For many reasons, Bangladeshi people like the Bengal tiger. It is perhaps because they think it is theirs to be proud of! The Bengal tigers are majestic, fierce, powerful, and live in an extraordinary place called the Sundarbans – a Unesco world heritage site and the largest mangrove forest in the world. There is so much emotion for the Bengal tigers in Bangladesh that the children read about it in books, the Bangladeshi cricket team uses them as their symbol, the Bangladesh Army uses Bengal tigers as their mascot, and the country considers it as the national animal of Bangladesh, and people carry tiger effigies during Bangla New Year festivals each year.
The same is true of the love and passion of Chinese people for their giant pandas. Pandas are cute and lazy, and they eat only bamboo. Chinese people regard them as a symbol of peace or friendship. Pandas are often compared to the yin and yang because of their black-and-white spots. China considers them to be the ‘national treasure’. China owns almost all the world’s giant pandas and all future offspring of all pandas. From commemorative coins to international diplomacy, the panda is gold for China.
Although the Bengal tiger and panda live in two very populous countries, their numbers are minimal. Their existence is severely threatened by human population growth, lost biodiversity, habitat destruction, climate change, etc. Both animals are red-listed species. However, recently, the panda has changed its status from “endangered” to “vulnerable” because of a population rebound in China after an enormous effort by the Chinese government for over four decades (China still wants to do more). But Bengal tigers are not even close to any luck. There are only over 100 tigers left in the Sundarbans of Bangladesh. They are still considered an endangered species. On the top, the Bangladesh government is tirelessly trying to build a coal-based energy power plant in Rampal, close to their habitat, against the will of the people and defying many environmental concerns.
Why?
China needs panda plus energy. Bangladesh needs energy, even at the cost of all the Bengal tigers. Losing pandas is a national shame for China, but building a power plant, even by losing tigers and their habitat, is a sign of progress and development for Bangladesh. Bangladesh needs more energy for people than the people need for Bengal tigers. China has earned millions of dollars just by panda-related activities. That is not the case for Bangladesh. The area where tigers live is underdeveloped, and they are not helping Bangladesh’s economy at all! The Prime Minister of Bangladesh described the largest mangrove, the Sundarbans, as an underdeveloped area. In a recent press conference, the PM told the media that…
‘The (Rampal) power plant will create employment there. People want electricity. Do the people of that area want to live in the darkness? No, they don’t want. And it is a completely neglected area…the people there (in Sundarbans), what are their livelihoods? They steal the trees of Sundarbans or are killed by a tiger attack while cutting trees! But after building the power plant, because of work activities there, people will not steal trees from Sundarbans anymore; they will find their ways of life and work which will save trees!’
Is this true?
No. Senseless development pressure has brought opposite effects of what the PM said. In the Amazon rainforest, Brazil’s understaffed environmental protection agency has to fight the grilleros (land grabbers)illegally clearing forests daily. Examples from the Serengeti highway in Tanzania to Ladia Galaska – a 400-kilometer road network through the Leuser Ecosystem in Indonesia- show us that sustainable development is not an easy one-way path. It is not the development; it is what comes with the development in poor countries that is devastating – crime, corruption, greed, bribery, kickback, pollution, sabotage, mismanagement – harming the surrounding environment. Indeed, Sundarbans mangrove-forest livelihoods are under threat from government corruption, not because local people are using the forest for a living.
It is not the development, it is what comes with the growth in poor countries is devastating.
Bangladesh Government’s argument for the Rampal power plant is very simple and something like this: we will use the best high-grade coal, make a sky-high chimney, use super-duper-ultra-critical technology, apply-deploy-maneuver-manipulate all kinds of pollution-resistant techniques, work with real-time gas monitoring machines…even Rampal’s leftover carbon will be used to clean the faces of the Bangladeshi people, Therefore so-called environmental concerns are indeed environmental propaganda! Can Bangladesh really manage any unexpected catastrophic risk in the Sundarbans area anytime? 2014 Sundarbans oil spill tells us a different story! Bangladesh’s environment performance tells us a different story!With electricity, the Rampal power plant will bring more people, roads, transportation, business, housing, agriculture, etc., to the Sundarbans’ heart.
At the same press conference, the PM of Bangladesh, the champion of the earth in 2015, mentioned that during her government, in 1997, Unesco declared Bangladesh’s side of Sundarbans a world heritage site. During the declaration, there were over 400 Bengal tigers in the Sundarbans. But in 2015, Bangladesh found only 100 Bengal tigers there. Oops! By now, Bengal tigers should be like Chinese panda. Instead of growing, how come they became even more endangered?
Chinese panda tells Bangladesh a story. Energy is essential for a nation’s development. But not by risking the energy a nation derives from its pride.
Does China care more about pandas than their dragons – the highest-ranking mythical creature in the Chinese animal hierarchy? Not really. But the moment China realized that the world associates pandas with China more than their dragons, they sprang into action. Pandas are in real danger, not dragons. Pandas are cute, cuddly, and comely. Panda gives China an image that a nation can die for. The passion, pride, and pleasure of saving the pandas gave the Chinese people the magical energy they needed to build the Chinese nation.
To survive the last few years of their lives before they become extinct from the soul and soil of Bangladesh, the Bengal tigers of Bangladesh have to fight the dangerous Rampal power plant, with dreadful government policies, and with part of the population who has no clue about the Sundarbans! Indeed, there is no fight. Yes, Bangladesh needs its Rampal, not the Bengal Tigers or Sundarbans. A poor nation cannot afford pride in its soul – the feeling belongs to mighty nations. Yes, China must keep saving the pandas.
Stop Rampal, Save Sundarbans, Save Bangladesh! What is that? Where is that? Why do you do that? How do you do that? How do you save Bangladesh by stopping something rather than starting? Well, this was the line of questioning raised by a non-resident Bangladeshi living in New York who had never heard of the Rampal power plant issue and confused Rampal with Indian self-styled godman Baba Rampal! I cannot claim that the person is at fault for not knowing such an important issue! After all, the environment, in today’s context, is a new concept for most of the Bangladeshis – home and abroad. So, the questions, I imagine, were intended to know more.
What is Stop Rampal, Save Sundarbans?
Environmental awareness in Bangladesh is a hard proposition for people. Historically Bangladesh never needed that. Fertile soil and healthy rivers provided plenty of food and god gave the disasters now and then – nothing to worry about too much! But now it’s a different story. Bangladesh is one of the most environmentally vulnerable countries in the world due to the climate change. Many people are already experiencing the effect of this change each day in Bangladesh. Some people may also aware of the impending catastrophe on the horizon, say by 2050.
Like many countries, the effects of globalization, mass commutation, economic development, heightened expectation, connected media stream – all have created tug-of-war sort of situation in Bangladesh. The traditional development model has now been in direct confrontation with the natural environment. The case of Rampal power plant fits the situation.
The story of Rampal can be found here, here, here, here and more online. In short, this is the case: Rampal Power Station is a proposed 1320 megawatt (MW) coal-fired power station in the Rampal area of the southwest of Bangladesh. The project is the collaboration between governments of Bangladesh and India. The station supposed to produce 1320 MW of energy to meet the ever-growing demand of energy in Bangladesh. Cow dung, jute stick, rice straw, firewood, wigs, leaves can not secure energy security of Bangladesh anymore, therefore, Bangladesh government plans to set up 25 coal-fired power plants by 2022, to generate 23,692 MW, in order to meet rising electricity demand.
Good intention, except, the location of the Rampal plant is very close (only 14 kilometers/8.5 miles away) to world’s largest mangrove forest the Sundarbans which is an environmentally fragile area and a UNESCO world heritage site. Because of corruption, inefficiency, rapid careless development, non-transparency in both public and private sectors of Bangladesh, many environmental groups fear that the project will cause irreparable damage to the livelihoods of two million inhabitants dependent on the Sundarbans. Plus, it has huge environmental effects such as air pollution, biodiversity loss, floods, global warming, loss of landscape, noise pollution, soil contamination, soil erosion, waste overflow, deforestation, water pollution, groundwater depletion, reduced ecological connectivity and so on.
Indeed, what could happen in the future was on display in 2014, when an oil tanker spilled 350,000 liters/92,000 gallons of furnace oil in the Shela river in Sundarbans. Authorities were not sure what to do, villagers used spoons, sponges, and shovels to clean up oil, 12 million US dollars estimated loss, no one took the responsibility in Bangladesh! It was perhaps small but impending disasters could be proven manifold catastrophic.
Who took the responsible for oil spill in the Sundarbans?
Concern?
Certainly a concern! All hell breaks loose with a long list of concerns!
In the light of this, a group of Bangladeshi youth from Ganashanghati Andolon North America, organizes a discussion meeting about ‘Stop Rampal, Save Sundarbans, Save Bangladesh!’ in Jamaica on August 13 at 7 pm. Curious, I went to listen to the discussion. Waiting an hour for others to show up, the organizers started the discussion at 8 pm. Organizers were young, welcoming and full of energy. Although they wanted a participatory discussion, the start was a formal event like most Bangladeshi events. (This is one of the most hilarious act my people love to do. They love to fill up empty chairs slowly by calling guests’ names!)
So what did they say?
Simple. They are against implementing Rampal power plant to save Sundarbans, save Royal Bengal Tigers, save Bangladesh. To elaborate the issue the first speaker, Mohammad Nasir Uddin, talked in a larger context: Signs of climate change are everywhere. We have no other planet to live, therefore we must save the one we have. As a human species, we have achieved many technological feats. But that achievement came with a price. We are destroying our environment in the name of development. We must act now for the sake of our future generations. We want Bangladesh to be energy independent by using proper politics, applying sound public policies, nurturing environment and addressing people’s voice – not by destroying Sundarbans. The Sundarbans is the pride of Bangladesh; we the people must act and use the power to save it. All over the world, the trend is to use alternative energy sources – the wind, solar, natural gas, nuclear, etc. – not dirty coal.
The second speaker, Humayun Kabir discussed three points. First, he raised the question about the concept of development. What kind of development model Bangladesh should follow? Development for whom? Should Bangladesh follow the Western model of growth? Must Bangladesh accept ‘some’ environmental destruction for ‘more’ expansion? Second, he expressed his doubt about the possibility of an open and honest discussion on the current political situation in Bangladesh. Can anyone really ask questions or express concerns about national issues without the fear of political reprisal? He observed from his personal experience that in Bangladesh no one can speak freely and fearlessly his/her mind on the national interests of Bangladesh today. He proposed that outside of Bangladesh, such as New York, can be a great place for raising and discussing those concerns without restriction. And third, he emphasized that mere meetings breed nothing. Very few organizations are working on Bangladeshi environmental issues abroad. Bangladeshi organizations, district based associations in New York are very difficult to approach or motivate! He wanted to know what are the strategies to make an effective forum on this issue?
Building power plant near the Sundarbans may proven an environmental suicide for Bangladesh.
Other speakers and participants spoke about
the protest they organized in Jackson Heights about Rampal power plant issue that day,
how Bangladesh is now a playground of foreign energy companies,
how Bangladesh’s gas resources are not properly utilized,
how Bangladeshis abroad are more interested in shallow social media posting but nothing about serious national interest issues,
how the Sundarbans – a national treasure and world heritage – is the heart of many conflicting and rapacious interests,
how and why Bangladesh need democracy first to solve environmental issues like Rampal,
why a demonstration in front the UN during Bangladeshi Prime Minister’s visit there is important,
need for delivering a protest memorandum with signatures of NRB to Bangladeshi policy makers,
the need for both traditional and innovative strategies to follow,
how any environmental work/protest/meeting by NRB abroad can encourage environmental activists in Bangladesh,
how Bangladeshi people abroad, Bangladeshi newspapers in New York sometimes wrote about Rampal issues but did not keep any record or documentation, etc.
Almost everyone stressed on the need for feedback, conversation, multi-facet strategies to stop Rampal, save Sundarbans, and ultimately save Bangladesh!
Impression and ideas
Even though the presentation was dry, the interaction was dynamic. Information handout was bare minimal. I personally love data visualization – that could be audio, video, picture, or simple story! For example, everyone knows, ‘Save Water, Save Life’ or ‘No Water, No Life’. It feels mundane. Now visualize: when we are using 3 gallons of water in one toilet flush, a child in Africa is walking 6 hours every day in scorching hot weather to get that amount of water for her family so that they can drink! For Stop Rampal, Save Sundarbans campaign organizers may use some compelling set of fact-based visual materials to convince and motivate people.
The discussion was respectful, open, engaging and idea driven. Organizers encouraged everyone to share their ideas and thoughts to create a momentum for the next steps. I am not sure how much this kind of discussion works without personal commitment! Bangladeshis are great in the art of encouraging each other, except for themselves! Hope this will not be the case forever. Great to see that Bangladeshi young community has come forward to organize the event. Now they have to find innovative, intuitive and transformational ways to do things. Perhaps Sundarban need sundar mon (bright mind) to save Bangladesh all the way.
I think it is good to start small but stay smart and below are a few random thoughts on this issue:
Use technology effectively: Use social media to write short comments, not just ‘Like’ it! Be vocal on websites and social media of the newspaper, environmental, policy-making organizations. Search environmental issues related to Bangladesh and then post comments. Forward/post articles on the issues to your friends or fans.
Connect with the community: Not only with Bangladeshi community – more with non-Bangladeshi community. Be interested in communities who are facing similar environmental issues – support them. They may reciprocate.
Give petition and memorandum: Do sign in the campaign – offline and online – keep the records (video/audio/picture). Send the petition to organizations, post the records online for others to see. Make some fun so that it is also enjoyable!
Protest innovatively: For example, stand in Times Square in New York with an impressive banner with the message for seven days (ok, not seven; three, two, one!). Make some video diary, post it online for a few days! Make fun. Stand with tourists of the world, take pictures, post them online, write what that is about. Show them how to write Stop Rampal, Save Sundarbans in Bangla perhaps, if they are interested!
Create visual content: Use all available technologies and talents to create content related to Bangladesh’s environmental issues. Use them in a way so that it becomes clear that implementing Rampal power plant is a fool’s paradise!
Create emotion with data: Don’t be shy with using numbers, data and fact to create an urge or emotion! Show alternatives to coal-based alternative that makes sense in Bangladeshi context.
Use tradition route: Be visible in front of the United Nations, tell your opposition to policy makers of Bangladesh, write to US Congress members expressing your concern, write to the ambassadors of the UN, create social pressure on investors of the project. France and Norway said no to the Rampal coal plant.
Include Bangladeshi community: Devise innovative plans to involve non-active Bangladeshi community with minimal interruption in their lives. Go to their picnic/Iftar party to collect signatures, street fairs to ask for a few minutes of stage time!
Many thanks to the organizers for arranging the event. Let’s see what comes next from these few good fellas!
Understanding Place: Seven Years Researching Dhaka, Bangladesh is an exhibit featuring photographs, videos, animations and design proposals designed by Dhaka Design-Research studio participants. The exhibition is based on the research work of architects Stephen Kieranand James Timberlake who began their work in 2007 on water management in Dhaka. The project was a part of PennDesign of at the University of Pennsylvania. Through annual trips Dhaka, Bangladesh with students, they have investigated and synthesized its ebbs and flows, mapped its urban systems and charted its development.
Understanding Place: Seven Years Researching Dhaka, Bangladesh is an exhibition consists of storytelling, which includes narrative sketches that describe the personal experiences of architects and designers who traveled to Dhaka seeking insight for urban intervention proposals. The documentary photography, which brings to life the people and places of Dhaka, supplying vivid imagery from everyday life in the world’s most extreme mega-city and hard research which indicates key findings about the social, economic, and environmental conditions observed and explored in Dhaka.
Venue:
New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury Northern Boulevard,Old Westbury, NY 11568
Contact:
Jennifer Mitchell-Nevin, jmitchel@nyit.edu, 212-261-1562
Bangladesh Environment Network: Special Meeting for discussing environmental issues and events in Bangladesh. The meeting will be organized by Bangladesh Environment Network (BEN) and held in Jackson Heights, New York. The meeting will be attended by Rasheda K. Chowdhury, vice president of BAPA, Shareef Jamil, Joint Secretary of BAPA. Modhuresh Kumar of National Alliance of People’s Movements of India will also present at the meeting. The event is free and open to all.
Topic of discussion:
A discussion and review of special Conference on Coastal and Marine Environment of Bangladesh (SCCMEB), held in Dhaka on January 2016
Book Launching : APA-BEN conference on Environment Policies and Acts Implementation Problems (EPAIP) which was held in January 2015
Even though most of the adult Bangladeshis never heard of climate change, Bangladeshi community abroad, specially Bangladeshi community in New York in general, expressed their happiness when Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, was awarded ‘Champions of the Earth’. The prize was given in recognition of her policy leadership to Bangladesh environment, such as, drafting Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan, creating Climate Change Trust Fund, earmarking money for climate change adaptation, amending constitution to protect the environment, etc.
To celebrate the event, supporters of Sheikh Hasina in USA have advertised their happiness in the local Bangla newspapers, displayed on posters, distributed in flyers, aired on TVs, conveyed by statements, and finally gave the Prime Minister a public reception in New York while she was in the city to attend 70th General Secretariat meeting of United Nations.
Sheikh Hasina with Bangladeshi community in New York
After Dr. Atiq Rahman, who got the UN environmental prize in 2008, Sheikh Hasina is the second Bangladeshi to win the award. On the eve of the event, the Prime Minister also wrote an article on Huffington Post about her government’s response to mitigate the effects of global climate change. Bangladeshi political leaders usually do not write. Therefore, this writing effort in an international media was nice, noteworthy, rare and long overdue.
Although overall Environmental Performance Index for Bangladesh is very poor (169 out of 178), any award given as a recognition is a big motivation for Bangladesh. Indeed, Bangladesh has been doing whatever it can do slowly to improve environmental condition and fight climate change with its limited resources. Plastic bag ban, boat school, solar panels, etc. are few examples.
But they are certainly not enough. Bangladesh has to do more and do it quick to prepare the country for climate change. Hope the Prime Minister will consider the award not as a reward for her past achievement but a future motivation to do more.
Now what for Bangladeshi community abroad?
Besides being happy what Bangladeshi community can do? It is very possible for Bangladeshi community to be active abroad, to be a vanguard of protecting environment of Bangladesh. As a pressure group, they can easily keep the PM on her toes to do more. Even with some improvements, Bangladesh is still facing many environmental degradation each day. Many environmental issues got international attention, such as, ship breaking industry in Chittagong, oil spill in the Sundarbans, Rampal coal-based power plant, tannery pollution at Hazaribagh, etc. Between development and climate change, keeping environment clean is a hard choice in conventional sense, but Bangladesh has to do its part to be active and innovative.
Bangladeshi community living abroad themselves can act as a role model as environmental champion. Here are some thoughts:
Select and celebrate a day each year as ‘Bangladesh Environment Day’ within the community. Encourage the new generation of Bangladeshis to plan, organize and implement the event. Join the event as one community. Organize environment-friendly street fairs, environmental picnics, join in neighborhood clean-ups etc.
Countless Bangladeshi regional and community associations are formed abroad. They can adopt a clause into their constitutions to protect environment and designate a person (an Environment Secretary like General Secretary!) to work on the issue. Even if it is not serious enough, doing it diligently could prove a great fun! Celebrate Earth Day each year as Bangladesh community do for Bangladesh Independence Day, Chadni Raat (pre-Eid night) etc.
Join local environmental groups and/or participate in activities. Get informed, educated, connected and committed. Work as a pressure group and lobby home and abroad to protect the environment of Bangladesh. Last year, only two Bangladeshi organizations joined the People’s Climate March in New York! Will they miss this year too!
Indeed, some Bangladeshi groups are active in environmental issues abroad. Bangladesh Environmental Network (BEN) has been organizing meeting and seminars to inform about the environment for more than a decade. Recently, a Bangladeshi youth group – Youth Congress of Bangladeshi-American – has taken an initiative to stop using plastic bag in New York. Phulbari Day was observed in UK by Bangladeshi community to protest coal mining in Bangladesh. These are few examples of activities but they are still a drop of water in a ocean if one thinks about Bangladesh’s stake due to climate change (PDF).
To conclude, is there a way Bangladeshi community abroad can lead the way, innovate the path, motivate the expatriates do more to protect and improve the environment of Bangladesh? Is it possible for the Bangladeshi community abroad to be the next Champion of the Earth?
Professor Anu Muhammad will talk about ‘Environmental Development in Bangladesh: Possibilities & Problems‘ in Jackson Height, New York. This event is jointly organized by Bangladesh Environment Network (BEN) and Progressive Forum USA. QA session after the talk.
The event is free and open to all. Due to space limitation, only 20-25 people can be accommodated. First come, first seat.
Venue:
Mamun’s Tutorial
37-21, 72nd Street, Jackson Heights, NY 11372
Contacts:
Syed F. Rahman, Coordinator, BEN (NY-NJ-CT)
347-842-8527
Alim Uddin, Secretary, Progressive Forum USA
646-642-4708
Anu Muhammad is a Bangladeshi economist and political activist. He is a professor at Jahangirnagar University where he has taught economics since 1982.
Bangladesh Environment Network (BEN) is an organization of non-resident Bangladeshis (NRB) to help protect environment of Bangladesh.
Progressive Forum USA is a New York based Bangladesh community organization to discuss various aspects of Bangladeshi life including politics, economy, culture and tradition.
Bangladesh Environment Network (BEN) occasionally organizes events to inform, educate, and seek support from non-resident Bangladeshis living abroad to preserve the environment of Bangladesh. On Sunday, March 22nd, BEN organized a special event to welcome Mr. Abdul Matin, General Secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) – (Bangladesh Environmental Movement), who has been visiting the USA. BEN works closely with BAPA on environmental issues in Bangladesh. So close is the relationship that they are sometimes called BAPA-BEN. The event took place in Jackson Heights, New York. More or less 30 people attended the event.
The General Secretary briefly discussed BAPA and the different aspects of Bangladesh’s environmental problems and prospects.
Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) was launched in 2000 to create a nationwide movement to protect Bangladesh’s environment. Since then, it has been working with reputation, so much so that some people use the good name of BAPA to support their local environmental activities.
BAPA has to fend off requests for membership from corrupt government officials who want to use BAPA’s name and activity for their personal benefit. Due to resource constraints, BAPA has been expanding slowly at local levels. Some associates work independently with BAPA, following their model of community activism.
BAPA has about 500 members after cutting down almost 350 inactive members over the years. It has a central committee, an executive committee, 18 program committees based on various environmental issues, and 14 sub-committees to help those program committees. BAPA leadership is elected via a ‘controlled democracy’ for the organization’s smooth operation.
Many reputable personalities in Bangladesh, like lawyers, environmental experts, and teachers, provide their services for BAPA as a labor of love, and they are an essential lifeline for BAPA. Volunteers help them to carry out many of their field-level activities.
BAPA tries to maintain transparency by allowing anyone to see their financial statements by visiting their Dhaka Office.
When asked about BAPA’s organizational challenges, Mr. Matin said none! The main difficulties are convincing and motivating people and the government to care for the environment.
Even after many efforts and some improvements, the environment is an ever-neglected area for the Bangladesh government. As an example, he cited that Bangladesh has no national river policy. Therefore, rivers are facing ‘extinction.’ Many rivers are dying out, getting polluted, becoming narrower, and illegally used for personal and commercial benefits. It is a constant battle to save them.
As an anecdote, he told the audience how local officials in Sundarbans – a world heritage site, killed two deers to pleasingly feed the Prime Minister of Bangladesh when she was visiting the area! The PM was not happy, and the officials were suspended! The anecdote depicts the level of awareness among the local level Bangladeshi government/political authorities about environmental issues!
Many thanks to BAPA-BEN for organizing an informal and informative event. It is very commendable that BAPA is actively working to protect Bangladesh’s environment by providing information, generating public opinion, formulating policies, and persuading public officials. Without the presence of the General Secretary, basic information about BAPA was hard to find. BAPA’s website does not provide almost any information the GS supplied at the event. For example, what are the 18 program committees, what are their activities, what are the achievements of BAPA so far, what are their future plans, how are volunteers involved in the process, how can non-resident Bangladeshis and others help or raise concern or provide support? Can anyone see BAPA’s annual reports online? Etc.
BAPA’s website provides some minimal, formal, static information. The blog contains no entry! The list of activities is from March 14, 2012, although the organization was founded in 2000. The last activity was posted on May 22, 2013! Research papers/publications are not available either for free or for sale. There is nothing on the ‘Associates’ link! The General Secretary mentioned that volunteers help BAPA, but the website is empty! There are no social links of any kind.
Disseminating information, keeping it online, and regular updates are fundamental aspects of today’s environmental movement. BAPA can easily connect with outside communities and organizations through its online campaign.
Even though Bangladesh is nowhere close to being responsible for climate change due to carbon emissions compared to developed countries, Bangladesh will be one of the most affected countries. Many experts rightly and reasonably have mentioned that very little Bangladesh can do to ‘stop’ global warming. Whatever little Bangladesh can do, are they doing it to the furthest extent? While Bangladesh’s industrial contribution to global warming has been small, its contribution through deforestation has been significant. Between 1986-7 and 1996-7, the number of cars, trucks, and jeeps doubled in Bangladesh, etc. Bangladesh has to address these kinds of issues.
Although Bangladeshis living abroad can advocate, lobby, organize, and actively participate in civic forums to get attention about the effects of climate change in Bangladesh, most non-resident Bangladeshis seem to be least concerned about it now. Only a handful of Bangladeshis joined last year’s climate march in New York. BAPA-BEN can think of some innovative initiatives to motivate/engage them.
Before ending, two points to make in a positive spirit:
The speaker was forced to stop in the middle of his talk because the organizer forgot to welcome him with flowers! Therefore, he was interrupted, the flower was given, photos were taken, the audience waited, and then he went back to talking again. Flowers could have been given before or after the talk – not in the middle by interrupting the most essential part of the event. The incident was somehow connected with the Bangladesh environment movement – culturally. Bangladeshis need to rethink their cultural practices if they want to save the environment. Changing culture is hard, but it is sometimes essential and possible.
The projector at the event ran for more than two hours with just one slide! It’s caused some light pollution and made it difficult to take pictures of whoever wanted! Here is a different kind of example of how every small act counts!
Thanks again, Bangladesh Environment Network and Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon, for the event.
Even though the presentation was dry, the interaction was dynamic. Information handout was bare minimal. I personally love data visualization – that could be audio, video, picture, or simple story! For example, everyone knows, ‘Save Water, Save Life’ or ‘No Water, No Life’. It feels mundane. Now visualize: when we are using 
Understanding Place: Seven Years Researching Dhaka, Bangladesh is an exhibit featuring photographs, videos, animations and design proposals designed by Dhaka Design-Research studio participants. The exhibition is based on the research work of architects 
