Desk Report:
BRAC University Vice-Chancellor Professor Syed Farhat Anwar has called on Bangladesh to take a leadership role in environmental conservation. He said that Bangladesh is the world’s largest delta. The world’s largest mangrove forest, the longest sea beach and the largest deep-sea submarine fan are also located in Bangladesh. Therefore, Bangladesh must also take a global leadership role in preserving the environment and biodiversity.
Professor Farhat Anwar said these words at the opening of a two-day event organized at BRAC University to mark World Environment Day and World Conservation Day 2026. The two-day event was held at BRAC University’s Merul Badda Campus on August 8 and 9. It was organized by the university’s Center for Climate Change and Environmental Research (C3ER) and Mutual Trust Bank PLC. World Environment Day is celebrated on June 5 and World Nature Conservation Day on July 28 under the initiative of the United Nations.
‘Submarine fan’ refers to the layer of sediment deposited near the continental margin in the deep-sea environment. These are also known as potential areas for hydrocarbon exploration. The world’s largest submarine fan is known as the ‘Bengal Fan’. It extends across the entire Bay of Bengal. Its length is 3,000 kilometers, width is 1,430 kilometers and the thickness of the sediment layer is 16.5 kilometers.
Professor Farhat also said that academia has an important role to play in addressing environmental challenges through research, innovation and capacity building of young people. He said, “BRAC University has a strength that many universities do not have. That is BRAC. BRAC has a presence in almost every region of the country. We want to use this strength to play a bigger role in environmental conservation and climate action. We want to do our best to build a developed Bangladesh and a better world.”
The event was inaugurated by State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam as the chief guest. He said that the current government has taken the initiative to plant 250 million trees across the country. He also said that mapping work has already started to determine the suitable tree species for different regions.
He highlighted the government’s strict stance on closing brick kilns that use wood fuel. He also requested everyone to use biodegradable alternatives instead of single-use polythene. He also reiterated the government’s commitment to assess the impact on public health before taking up development projects.
Dr. Md. Saimum Parvez, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Environment, Forest and Climate Change, was present at the closing ceremony of the event. He highlighted the importance of ‘Reduce, ‘Reuse’ and ‘Recycle’ or the ‘3Rs’ policy in waste management. He also emphasized the circular economy, where waste is converted into reusable resources. He called on the government, educational institutions, banks and everyone in society to come forward in this work.
Professor Dr. Ainun Nishat, Emeritus Professor of BRAC University and Advisor to C3ER, said that Bangladesh is suffering the consequences of a crime it did not commit. He said that Bangladesh has signed 40 to 50 international agreements to protect the environment and biodiversity. He called for more effective implementation of these commitments as well as increasing the country’s own responsibility.
BRAC University Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Arshad Mahmud Chowdhury emphasized the joint efforts of the government, academia, private sector and the general public to address climate and environmental challenges. He also highlighted BRAC University’s commitment to sustainable development.
Syed Mahbubur Rahman, Managing Director and CEO of Mutual Trust Bank PLC, highlighted the bank’s various initiatives to protect nature and the environment as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). He said that students should also play an active role in protecting the environment, as they will be the leaders of Bangladesh in the future.
A. K. M. Sohel, Additional Secretary and Wing Head (UN Wing) of the Economic Relations Division (ERD), said that Bangladesh is increasingly giving more importance to adaptation-based financing to address the impacts of climate change. He urged the youth to acquire skills in global climate finance frameworks, project formulation and proposal writing, so that they can build the country’s climate resilience and contribute more effectively to climate initiatives.
Dr. Golam Rabbani, Director of C3ER, delivered the keynote address at the event. He called for emphasis on tree plantation, restoration of the environment, green and clean cities and waste management to preserve the environment.
The event also honored the top three participants of the “She for Climate Fellowship” program. The initiative is working to encourage women’s leadership in climate action.
The event was attended by policymakers, environmental experts, researchers, representatives of the private sector and students. Five technical sessions discussed climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, nature-based solutions and youth participation.
The event came at a time when BRAC University is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The two-day event concluded with a pledge to strengthen collective efforts to protect the environment and build a more sustainable and climate-resilient Bangladesh.
This event is aligned with the United Nations Development Goals (SDGs) 13 (Climate Action), 14 (Life on Water), 15 (Life on Land), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
