Chattogram Urban Network (CUN) has organized a virtual dialogue titled “শ্বাসরোধ করে, হাসপাতাল নয়” on 27th August, 2021. The dialogue is initiated to support the movement to stop the commercial structure project against environment law in Bangladesh in CRB, the lungs of Chattogram. As a concerned growing network of Chattogram, CUN feel the urgency of raising voice against this project and join the movement to save CRB.
In the dialogue Mr. Arifur Rahman, Chief Executive of YPSA gave the introductory remarks, he said, Chattogram Urban Network has taken great initiative to give us such platform where the united force for CRB save movement can express their voice and spread their massage to national and international platform. He also added that “CRB is the lung of Chattogram, we will not go back to home without saving CRB from all kinds of commercial construction.” Utpal Barua, Executive Director of Bright Bangladesh Forum moderated the dialogue.
In addition, renowned Social Scientist and Vice Chancellor of Premier University, Professor Dr. Anupam Sen attended the dialogue as chief guest. Also Khorshed Alam Sujon, Former Administrator (Chittagong City Corporation) and Co-president, (Civil Society formed to protect CRB and Ed. Ibrahim Hossain Babul, Member Secretary-Civil Society attended the dialogue as special guests. Professor Dr. AQM Sirajul Islam, President – Professional Coordinating Council, Chittagong, Co-Chairman – Civil Society, Kamrul Hasan Badal, Journalist, Essay (Joint Member Secretary – Civil Society), Ashekur Rahman, Assistant Resident Representative, UNDP, Rizwana Hassan, Executive Director, Bella, Dr. Md. Akter Mahmud, President, Bangladesh Institute of Planners along with representatives from CUN member organizations (Save the Children, UNDP, ELLMA, Bright Bangladesh Forum, YPSA) participated in discussion panel.
During the discussion, everyone expressed united concern for the commercial structure project in CRB and mention about Article 24 in the constitution of Bangladesh which clearly against the project considering the value of ecological and cultural heritage of CRB.
Prof. ABM Abu Noman, Dean, Faculty of Law, Chittagong University and General Secretary, Bapa, Chattogram and Rizwana Hassan, Executive Director, Bella mentioned about two important laws of Bangladesh constitution in support of CRB movement. They are, Bangladesh Biodiversity Act 2017 and Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act 2012. Considering this they suggest the committee to spread the specific massage to announce CRB as cultural heritage and the ages old trees as memorial tree of the area.
CUN member organization Save the Children representative Mr. Simon Rahman, Manager- Urban Resilience states that ‘Save the Children is working to ensure Child friendly city and cleaner, greener and safer city in Chattogram with different city level government and non-government city stakeholders, therefore, save the Children will remain as a strong supporter to this movement.’ He also thanked Chattogram Urban Network for organizing such dialogue and express special thanks to YPSA for coordinating all the members for this wonderful event.
Next Dr. Md. Akter Mahmud, President, Bangladesh Institute of Planners said, ‘if the project is implemented that will be against the Chattogram Detail Area Plan and will also break the classification of city areas. On behalf of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners we strongly stand against this hospital and any other kinds of construction project in CRB. Besides this we should also think about establishing area wise public space in Chattogram urban.’
Ashekur Rahman, Assistant Resident Representative, UNDP emphasized on The Convention concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage, 1972 and said CRB is completely protected under this act.
At the end the chief guest renowned Social Scientist and Vice Chancellor of Premier University, Professor Dr. Anupam Sen explains the cultural and historical value of CRB and said CRB is a natural place of over 200 kinds of plants. He thanked Chattogram Urban Network and all other participants to support this movement above all the classifications of political and religious values.
Utpal Barua, Executive Director of Bright Bangladesh Forum concluded the dialogue with the promise to stand strong with 20 member organizations of Chattogram Urban Network and over 500 urban community volunteers with the Civil Society committee to Save CRB from any unplanned commercial structure which will make CRB vulnerable to its years old heritage.
Live Streaming video link https://fb.watch/7F9oQCGSP6/