A three-day ‘Stakeholders Learning Sharing Workshop’ was held between YPSA (Young Power in Social Action), IRB (Islamic Relief Bangladesh), SCI (Save the Children), and SEEP (Social and Economic Enhancement Programme) from 28th to 30th March 2022 at different venues of Sylhet City. Local Govt. Authorities including the Mayor, High officials of LGI, Ward Councilors, and various community stakeholders from Chattogram, Sylhet, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), and Savar participated in the workshop jointly organized by IRB and SCI with facilitation from YPSA and SEEP with a view to exchange their experience on Urban Resilience, Waste Management and other issues.
The three-day long workshop was divided into four parts. On day one, 28th of march, in presence of various community-level stakeholders including Urban Community Volunteer (UCV), Ward Disaster Management Committee (WDMC), women and child group members as well as Proyash-II project staffs of YPSA and SEEP, IRB and SCI presented their urban resilience model which was followed by sharing of PROYASH-II project Mid-Term Findings and some group works at Hotel Metro International, Sylhet.
On the second day, the 29th of March, a discussion meeting was organized at Rose view Hotel, Sylhet on `Contextual approaches and solutions for urban waste management’ in participation with Mayor of Chittagong City Corporation M. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Mayor of Sylhet City Corporation Ariful Haque Chowdhury, and Mayor of Savar Municipality Haji Md. Abdul Gani. Different high officials of Chattogram, Sylhet, Savar, Narayanganj and DNCC, Ward Councilor and representatives of Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defense (FSCD), UCVs, women and children as well as local communities also participated the event.
In moderation from the Executive Director of IPD and Professor of Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Jahangirnagar University Mr. Adil Mohammad Khan, two presentation was held on ’Urban Resilience & Development Research Grant 2021 and further scope of Urban Innovation Research’ and `Contextual approaches and solutions for urban waste management’ by Professor & Ex-Head of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) Dr. Muhammad Azizul Haque and Additional Chief Engineer of DNCC Dr. Tariq Bin Yousuf respectively.
After the presentation one open discussion was held between the participants following speeches from Mayor of Chattogram City Corporation Md. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Mayor of Sylhet City Corporation Ariful Haque Chowdhury, Mayor of Savar Municipality Hazi Md. Abdul Gani, Secretary of Chattogram City Corporation Md. Khaled Mahmud, Chief Executive Officer of Savar Municipality Sharif Uddin Ahmed Choudhury, Chief Engineer of Sylhet City Corporation Eng. Nur Azizur Rahman and others. Discussants and speakers agreed upon that, waste management in cities can be most effective through locally implementable strategies. Everyone also shared their experience and the obstacles they face in improving the waste management system in cities.
Among others Deputy Director (Social Development) of YPSA Nasim Banu, Deputy Executive Director of SEEP Tohomina Jesmin Mita, Executive Director of Coalition for the Urban Poor (CUP) Khondoker Rebaka Sun-Yat, Chief Health Officer of Sylhet City Corporation Dr. Md. Zahidul Islam, Urban Planner of Narayanganj City Corporation Md. Moinul Islam, Panel Mayor of CCC Md Gias Uddin, Chairman of Standing Committee on Waste Management and Ward Councilor of 7 no ward of CCC Md. Mobarak Ali, Chairman of Standing Committee on water and Electricity and Ward Councilor of 8 no ward of CCC Md. Morshed Alam, Ward Councilor of 4 No ward of CCC Mohammad Asrarul Hoq Asrar, Chairman of Standing Committee on Conservancy and Councilor of 19 no ward of Sylhet City Corporation SM Sawkot Amin Towheed, Councilor of 7 no ward of Sylhet City Corporation Rashed Ahmed, Councilor of 18 no ward of Sylhet City Corporation ABM Zillur Rahman Uzzal, Female Councilor and Panel Mayor of Savar Sultana Razia, Ward Councilor of 4 no ward of Savar Md. Noora Alam Siddique, Ward Councilor of 2 no ward of DNCC Md. Sazzad Hossain, Ward Secretary of 5 no ward of DNCC Abu Sayed Chowdhury expressed their ideas and experience on the discussions topics.
Manager of Urban Resilience, Save the Children Simon Rahman gave the welcome Speech in the meeting whereas Mohammad Akmal Shareef, Country Director of Islamic Relief Bangladesh provided the closing remarks.
On the last day of the workshop, 30th march, one discussion meeting on `City corporation’s and municipality’s role planned urban development’ was arranged at Sylhet City Corporation with presence of Mayors and high officials of 4 Local Govt. Authorities. One field visit at different working areas of IRB at Sylhet with others stakeholders was also conducted the same day.
