“Mitigation Strategies for Warming Dhaka Megacity Implication for Sustainable Development”

Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) in collaboration with Curtain University, Australia and Department of Meteorology, University of Dhaka organized a seminar on “Mitigation Strategies for Warming Dhaka Megacity: Implication for Sustainable Development” on 19 January 2020 at BIISS auditorium. H.E. Mr. Muhammad Abdul Manna, MP, Honorable Minister, Ministry of Planning, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh graced the seminar as the chief guest while H. E. Dr. Shamsul Alam, Member (Senior Secretary), General Economics Division, Planning Commission, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh was present as special guest.

Professor Dr. Nazrul Islam, Chairman, Centre for the Urban Studies, Dhaka chaired the seminar. Ambassador M. Fazlul Karim, Chairman, BIISS and Professor Dr. Ruhul Salim, School of Economics, Finance and Property, Curtain University, Australia delivered the welcome address.

Dr. Ashraf Dewan, School of Earth and Planetary Science, Curtain University and Dr. Mahfuz Kabir, Research Director, BIISS presented the result of their study titled “Mitigation strategies for the urban micro climate of Dhaka megacity to reduce adverse climate change impacts”. After presentation a panel discussion was moderated by Dr. Saleemul Huq, Director, International Center for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD), Dhaka.

Professor Dr. Nazrul Islam delivered the closing remarks. Professor Dr. Towhida Rashid, Chairman, Department of Meteorology, University of Dhaka delivered the vote of thanks.

Distinguished speakers of the seminar noted that the temperature of Dhaka city is comparatively higher than that of other parts of the country. This high temperature is affecting city life as well as very nature of ecosystem. Rate of survival of germs and bacteria is increasing and that resultant in frequent occurrences of many diseases. Besides, the excessive temperature affecting human body and psychology crudely. As a result, working capacity of individual is declining. To address this problem different measures should be implemented like as Carbon emission rate to be cut down, building code to be maintained properly and densely populated area must have significant amount of water body.

The seminar included a lively open discussion session. Senior officials from different ministries, ambassadors and high commissioners, senior civil and military officials, media, academia, think tank, business personalities, student and teachers from different universities participated in the session and raised their valuable questions and opinions.