BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) and the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF), India in partnership with the World Bank organized a Regional High-Level Workshop on “Bluer, Greener and Inclusive Growth in the Sundarban through an Ecosystem-based Approach” on Wednesday, 24 May 2023 at Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF), New Delhi, India. Mr. Bhupender Yadav, Hon’ble Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India (GoI) graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Ms. Habibun Nahar, Hon’ble Deputy Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of Bangladesh (GoB) was the Guest of Honour. Mr. Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Chairman, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, GoB,was the Special Guest in this occasion. Mr. Abdoulaye Seck, World Bank, Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan, and Mr. Auguste Tano Kouame, World Bank, Country Director for India were also present among the others. Welcome remarks was delivered by Dr. Arvind Gupta, Director, VIF in this occasion. The Keynote Address was given by the Chief Guest, Mr. Bhupender Yadav on “Spurring inclusive growth through an Ecosystem-based Approach: India’s global climate leadership.” In the inaugural session, Guest of Honor, Ms. Habibun Nahar talked about “Enhancing social and economic growth of Sundarban-dependent communities.” Followed by, Special Guest Mr. Saber Hossain Chowdhury talked on “Strengthening climate resilience through bilateral cooperation.” Major General Sheikh Pasha Habib Uddin, OSP, SGP, BAMS, afwc, psc, Director General of BIISS delivered the Vote of Thanks in the inaugural session. The inaugural session was moderated by Dr. Arvind Gupta, Director, VIF. Later, three sessions took place in this daylong workshop where following esteemed speakers talked on different important topics. In session one, Dr. Amit Mallick, Inspector General of Forests, MoEFCC, Government of India (GoI), Mr. Md. Moyeenuddin Khan, Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests, Bangladesh Forest Department, GoB, Dr Shamal Chandra Das, Chief Engineer (Civil), Bangladesh Water Development Board, Mr. Jayanta Basu, Communication Specialist, Secretary EnGIO, Kolkata, Ms. Ajanta Dey, Program Director, Nature Environment & Wildlife Society, Kolkata, and Mr. Prabhat K Mishra, Principal Secretary, Irrigation & Waterways, Government of West Bengal (GoWB) talked on Ecosystem-based approaches and adaptive spatial planning to meet climate change challenges. Session one was moderated by Mr. Pankaj Saran, former Deputy National Security Advisor & India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh. In session two, Ms. Roshni Sen, Principal Secretary, Dept. of Environment, GoWB, Mr. A.Z.M. Sakhawat Hossain, Managing Director, Social Development Foundation, Bangladesh, Mr. Debal Ray, PCCF & Chief Wildlife Warden, GoWB, Dr. Uttam Sinha, Senior Fellow, Mahohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, (MP-IDSA), India, and Dr. Anurag Danda, Director – Sundarbans Programme, WWF-India & Senior Visiting Fellow, Observer Research Foundation talked about Bluer, greener, and inclusive growth in the Sundarban. Dr. ASM Maksud Kamal, Pro-Vice Chancellor at the University of Dhaka, moderated session two. In session three, Ms. Smita Pant, Joint Secretary (BM), Ministry of External Affairs, GoI, Mr. A.T.M. Rokebul Haque, Director General (SA), Ministry of foreign Affairs, GoB, Dr. Mahfuz Kabir, Research Director, BIISS, and Dr. Smruti Pattanaik, Research Fellow, MP-IDSA, India talked about Deepening transboundary cooperation on the Sundarban and way forward. Session three was moderated by Ms. Cecile Fruman, Director, Regional Integration and Engagement, South Asia, World Bank.