UIU students join experts to discuss development and climate justice
United International University's Department of Environment and Development Studies, in association with the Environment, Development and Sustainability Club, hosted the 'Youth Symposium on Environment, Development and Sustainability' at its Dhaka campus on 19 May.
The day-long event was held at United City, Madani Avenue. It provided a platform to enhance youth engagement in sustainability, climate justice, development, governance and policy discourse, according to a press release issued on 20 May.
Chief guest Ulrich Klepmann, Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy in Dhaka, and special guests Md Abdul Quayyum (Head of Communications, UNDP Bangladesh) and Dr Haseeb Md Irfanullah (Visiting Research Fellow, Centre for Sustainable Development, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh) attended.
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Md Abdul Quayyum, Head of Communications, UNDP Bangladesh, and Dr Haseeb Md Irfanullah, Visiting Research Fellow at the Centre for Sustainable Development, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh, were special guests.
Dr Shantanu Saha, Head of the Department of Environment and Development Studies at UIU, gave the welcome address. Prof Dr Hamidul Huq, Dean of SoHSS, UIU, expressed gratitude in the vote of thanks.
The symposium offered a session on careers in the development sector and conducted a workshop on policy and governance.
Sessions were led by Kingbadanti Sabir, Youth Portfolio Lead at Friendship; Sumaiya Binte Selim Sudha, Youth and Gender Programme Manager at ICCCAD; and Shah Rafayat Chowdhury, Founder of Footsteps NGO and Forbes 30 Under 30 laureate. Shah Adnan Mahmood, Country Director at GeoCal; Anika Karim, Climate Change Programme Director at Bonhishikha-Unlearn Gender; Sharif Jamil, Coordinator at Waterkeepers Bangladesh; and Esrat Karim, Founder and Executive Director of Amal Foundation, also led sessions.
The event featured interactive workshops, panel discussions, and networking sessions. It also included dialogues that bridged academic knowledge with practical experience in the development sector.
Speakers highlighted the importance of sustainable consumption, environmental protection, career pathways, and youth responsibility in addressing contemporary environmental challenges.
They emphasised the critical role of youth and educational institutions in raising awareness and driving meaningful change towards a sustainable future.
The symposium was attended by faculty members, officials, students, environmental experts, and invited guests.
