National Youth Forum on Green Solutions in Bangladesh in Rangamati District from 18-19 December 2012

ICIMOD and the Bangladesh Youth Forum together with the Green Hill and the Asia Pacific Youth Task Force on Rio +20 organised a two-days long National Youth Forum on Green Solutions in Bangladesh in Rangamati District from 18-19 December 2012. Organised in the framework of ICIMOD’s National Youth Forum initiative that aims to prepare youth from its member countries to take actions to promote green solutions in their countries, the event was attended by 40 youth from different parts of the country, majority of them coming from the hilly background. The two days meeting proved to be instrumental in bringing together central and local government, non-governmental organisations, local communities and youth to discuss on potential areas for development of green solutions in hilly areas of Bangladesh. 

Guests who attended the event included Mr. Md. Shamsuzzaman, Joint Secretary (administration), Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tract Affairs; Mr. Md. Irfan Sharif, Chief Executive Officer, Rangamati Hill District Council; Mr. Moung Thowai Ching, Executive Director, Green Hill; Mr. Tek Jung Mahat, Project Manager, ICIMOD; Mrs. Nazia Shirin, Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Rangamati Sadar Upazila; Mr. Md. Mostafa Kamal, Deputy Commissioner, Rangamati Hill District; Ms. Marufa Ishaque, Programme Coordinator, Bangladesh Youth Forum; and Ms. Tuku Talukder, Chairperson, Green Hill among others. The programme contained technical sessions, world café for ideas development, field visit to nearby villages located in the Kaptai Lake area and community interaction. 

At the end of the Forum, the 40 participating youth prepared the National Youth Declaration on Green Solutions in Bangladesh, which will be guiding the youth activities in hilly areas of Bangladesh in coming days.