Feature

Discussion on Climate Change “Know the Challenge, Lead the Action”
The adventurous journey of the BYEI team

Syed Muntasir Ridwan

EXCITEMENT was in the air as we headed for Kushtia in the deep end of the night, moments before the departure of the last bus destined for Kushtia from Dhaka. In the midst of managing all the core and technical issues in the run up to our discussion we almost forgot about the piercing cold that was awaiting us, amidst of our energy of excitement, we were absorbed by the chill of cool breeze once the bus left outside the Dhaka city. Our bus reached Kushtia just before dawn, about the time when the sky was lit by a fading light to reveal a serene little village but the cold outside was harsh enough to make us shiver to death. Fortunately one of our local friends from Kushtia took the undertaking of picking us from the bus stand and took us to his home for a nice breakfast and a hot cup of tea.

We reached the Kushtia Islamic University on a microbus at about 11:00 am in the morning and we were stunned by the reception of the Islamic University students as the large auditorium hall of the university was filled to the brim with around 250 students from different disciplines and several faculties from different departments. This discussion was jointly organized by the Bangladesh Youth Environmental Initiative (BYEI) and Center for Economic Research, Kushtia. Our programme started at 11:30 am with a short introductory speech from Arif Biswas, President of Center for Economic Research, Kushtia and then the President of BYEI presented his eye opening presentation on science of climate change followed by a lively question and answer session. After that, the faculties of Kushtia Islamic university enlightened the audience with their open discussion on the climate change issue emphasizing on proper understanding of the gravity of damage due to climate change and focused on the issues of climate change adaptation. The faculties highly appreciated the move of BYEI to engage the youth on this issue and were upbeat about opening a wing of BYEI in Kushtia Islamic University. We wrapped up the programme by 1:30 pm in the afternoon and bade farewell to the great audience of the university.

We started off for our next destination, Khulna University. The Khulna University auditorium was thriving with young minds congregating from different departments, with the same notion in mind that is to understand the challenge and lead the actions to mitigate the impacts of climate change. This discussion on climate change was jointly organized by Bangladesh Youth Environmental Initiative (BYIE) and Biotech publication of Khulna University.

The discussion was moderated by Tanveer Ahmed Simon and the main presentation was given by Shamir Shehab the President of the BYEI followed by a display of an insightful documentary on climate change. The organizing team consisted of Asif Ahamed Lenin, Ex-editor of Biotech Magazine, Sumon Sarker, Executive Editor of Biotech magazine, Monsur Musa Tipu and other members of Biotech magazine. The whole team of Biotech magazine had put up a fantastic effort to organize such a huge event within such a short notice and made sure that every specific requirement is fulfilled.

The key note speech was provided by Dilip Kumar, Senior Faculty of Environmental Science Department at Khulna University. Dilip Kumar gave a thought provoking speech on the politicization of the issue of climate change and zeroed on the effect of climate change on the southern region of Bangladesh. He argued that the global phenomenon of climate change has undoubtedly affected Bangladesh but the whole spectrum of the impact cannot be understood with the global understanding of climate change, because the problem of climate change that Bangladesh is facing is not only enclosed into the barriers of greenhouse gases but are much more diverse.

We were touched by the hospitality of the Biotech club members of Khulna University; they arranged a huge feast for us once the programme was over followed by a fun tour in the majestic Rupsha Bridge riding on a van. We headed back home on the same night in almost the same manner except we were carrying some sweet memories from our journey.

(Student of North South University and Project Coordinator of Bangladesh Youth Environmental Initiative, BYEI)