To observe the World Environment Day 2021, a virtual dialogue was jointly organised by Bangladesh Youth Environmental Initiative (BYEI), Plan International Bangladesh, Population Services and Training Center (PSTC) and The Business Standard reaffirming the urgent action required for ecosystem restoration.
Standing on the 50th year of Bangladesh, the discussion launched a tree plantation campaign under the title “Bangladesh 50:50 – Planting Hopes Challenge” to encourage environmental activism in the upcoming 50 years journey of Bangladesh.
The online tree plantation drive is using a social media engagement mechanism and is aiming to plant five lakh trees across Bangladesh by 2030 aligning with the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration.
The discussants of the program were Farida Akhter, Executive Director of UBINIG, Dr. Mukhlesur Rahman, Executive Director of Center for Natural Resource Studies, Dr MA Sobhan, Agro-ecology Expert, Ishtiaq Uddin Ahmad, Former Chief Conservator of Forests at the Bangladesh Forest Department, Kashfia Feroz, Director of Girls Rights at Plan International Bangladesh, Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shamir Shehab, Founder of Bangladesh Youth Environmental Initiative and Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Executive Director of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association. The dialogue was jointly moderated by The Business Standard Chief Reporter, Morshed Noman and Oxfam’s Head of Climate Justice and Natural Resource Rights, Enamul Mazid Khan Siddique.
The respected guests urged on the need for restricting destruction of natural resources and agro-biodiversity, ensuring punishment of illegal occupiers, reassessment of proposed development project locations, formulation of new regulations replacing the ones from colonial rule and youth engagement to preserve nature.
Having stressed on these points, the discussants agreed on the importance of a planned agenda for ecosystem restoration for Bangladesh and wished success for the tree plantation drive Plant for Hopes. Read the full discussion here.
