IUB hosts seminar on CORVI Risk Profile of Chattogram

On December 13, 2022, Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) hosted a seminar on Holistic City-based Assessment of the Climate Risk Facing Chattogram. The seminar was part of the “10th Eastern Himalayan Naturenomics Forum 2022: Ecology Is Economy” conference organized by Balipara Foundation, India. IUB was one of the joint organizers along with The Ocean Policy Research Institute of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Japan; Stimson Center, USA; and Center for Bay of Bengal Studies (CBoBS), IUB.
M. A. Mannan, MP, Minister for Planning, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh attended the seminar as the Chief Guest. Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan, Ph.D., Pro Vice-Chancellor, IUB; and Architect Abdullah Al Omar, City Planner, Chattogram City Corporation were the Special Guests. Dr. Miko Maekawa, Senior Research Fellow, The Ocean Policy Research Institute (OPRI) of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF), Japan; and Dr. Md. Khaled Saifullah, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, IUB also spoke at the event.
Praising the findings of the research and highlighting its importance for policy making, Planning Minister M. A. Mannan said, “Now there’s a need to look at the Bay of Bengal from a different perspective. CORVI is a holistic look at the vulnerabilities of climate change.”
While presenting the findings of the Chattogram CORVI assessment, Dr. Emadul Islam, Research Fellow, OPRI, SPF, said, “The coastal city of Chattogram is at substantial ecological risk. Immediate measures from the policymakers are essential to protect and save the coastline, since Chattogram is the first line of defense for climate resilience.”
Dr. Santosh Kumar Rauniyar, Research Fellow, OPRI, SPF; Natalie Fiertz, Research Associate, Stimson Center, USA; Professor Dr. Golam Mathbor, Monmouth University, USA; and Mr. M. Zakir Hossain Khan, Chief Executive, Change Initiative, also spoke on the findings of the research.