The chief guest of the workshop was Mr.Tarun Kanti Shikder, Director of Department of Environment, Khulna. Mr. Deb Prasad Sarker, Executive Director of LoCOS presided while Professor Anwarul Kadir, executive director of Sundarban Academy moderated the workshop.

Special guests were Assistant Professor of Khulna University Mr. Kusol Roy, Assistant Professor Mr. Tusar Kanti Roy, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Khulna University of Engineering and Technology and Executive director of CCEC Mr. Mowdudur Rahman.

Program Officer of YPSA Mr. Prabal Barua and Subir Das delivered their opening speech and gave power point presentation on involvement of different ministries/ department of Bangladesh government, international donors, civil society groups and working international, national and local NGOs on climate change adaptation and displacement issues in Bangladesh. They also highlighted the activities and outcome of completed first phase of Bangladesh Housing, Lands and Rights initiative project with the support of Displacement Solutions.

Chief Guest of the workshop Mr. Tarun Kanti Shikder Director of Department of Environment, Khulna thanked YPSA for working first time in Bangladesh. He said, “Although Khulna is highly vulnerable to climate change but only 5 projects are implanting here under the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund”.

Divisional Coordinator of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association, Khulna Mr. Mahfuzul Rahman Mukul, Sariful Islam Selim, executive director of Humanitywatch, Mr. Manira Begum, Chief Executive of Development and Rehabilitation Organization, Prasanta Bishwas, Chief Executive Director of SIDAP, Mr. Asim Paul, Mrit Shilpa Unnayan Sangsha, A. Alauddin, Dainink Purbanchal, Kusik Dey, staff reporter of Daily Kaler Kontho, Begum Momtaj Khatun from Asroy Foundation gave their comments and suggestion for strengthening YPSA’s research on Mapping Study for Climate Displacement in Bangladesh.

The Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament) passed a Bill defining the moving of people by illegal force or deception in the name of being given jobs inside the country or abroad, for sexual and commercial purposes or other forms of exploitation by human traffickers.

According to the law anyone who, with ulterior motives, allures people to go abroad in order to exploit them, will be branded as criminals.

As per the law, forced prostitution and labour, forced participation in the production of pornography, servitude, debt-bondage, exploitation through false marriages, beggary, and trading in human organs are some of the crimes committed by traffickers.

The persons convicted of human trafficking will face the death penalty, lifetime imprisonment and fines of up to Tk 5 lakh.

Human trafficking and related crimes will be tried in the Speedy Trial Tribunals that will be set up in all the districts and metropolitan cities, says the Bill. The special tribunals should have judges with the status of a session’s judge in a district, and the trial of a case must be completed in 180 days.

In case of its failure to settle the case in 180 days, the tribunal must inform the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of the causes of the delay.

The law will also authorize the tribunal to hold trials in secret for the sake of the safety of the victims, provided the lawyers of the both sides agree.

Until the formation of the tribunals, the women and children repression courts in the district headquarters will try the cases of human trafficking.

Speakers stated that any budget formulation without ensuring people’s active participation cannot be democratic and therefore it will surely fail to reflect people’s demand.

Representatives from different NGO’s and civil society participated in the program.

Mr. Razaul Karim, Upazila assistant commissioner (Land) presided over the discussion meeting.

He was very pleased and impressed knowing about YPSA and he appreciated YPSA a lot for its social development activities. He said, “After joining the Chittagong DC Office, YPSA is the first organization I am inspecting it as a NGO in Chittagong and its overall program.  YPSA is doing well for the society and human development”. He also observed technical presentation on Digital Accessible Information System (DAISY) presented by Mr. Vashkar Bhattacharjee.

Furthermore, they visited the Development Resource Centre (DRC) and observed the resource documents preserved in the library. They were very much happy to see the many important publications and reference books in a one place.

Ms. Suraya Akter Swety says that climate displacement issue is a new program for Bangladesh as far I know. I have learnt many new things on climate change adaptation and displacement statistics in Bangladesh. The research and advocacy approach on HLP project will be helpful for Bangladesh Government to take initiative something new for displaced peoples.

Visitors gave thanks to YPSA for implementing the up-to-date theme for the new millennium. They wish great success for the future of YPSA and HLP program in Bangladesh.

“Mobile court will be conducted in different places at Chittagong soon to execute ‘Smoking and Tobacco Products Use (control) Bill-2013′” said Mr. Md. Abdul Mannan, Deputy Commissioner (DC), Chittagong in a discussion meeting held at the conference hall of Civil Surgeon Office, Chittagong on June 2, 2013.  

Dr. Md. Abu Tayab, Civil Surgeon presided the meeting while Ms. Nasim Banu Shaymali, Team leader, Smoke free project, YPSA presented the keynote on “Significance of World No Tobacco day’13, ban tobacco advertisements, promotion and sponsorship, harms of tobacco use and tobacco control amendment bill 2013”. Dr. Md. Rafiq Uddin, Deputy Civil Surgeon and Md. Mahbubur Rahman, Director (SDP), YPSA spoke in the meeting. Different NGOs representative, Government officials, Taskforce members and Coalition members participated in the meeting.
In Bangladesh, at least 57 thousand people die each year from eight leading tobacco related diseases.  In addition, 382 thousand people become disabled each year from tobacco related illnesses.  The amount of health costs attributable to tobacco related illnesses suffered by 1.2 million people each year is enormous.

Dr. Abu Tayab said, “Along with the tobacco control act, increasing tobacco tax, banning tobacco selling to children and raising awareness has to be done in order to control tobacco uses”.  .