International workshop held at Nazrul University

ছবিঃ সিএনআই

Nazrul University Correspondent: An international workshop titled “Exploring the Blue Earth: Marine Geohazards, Carbon Dynamics & Observation Technologies” was held at the National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam University, with participation from students of six departments, including the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering.

The inaugural session of the workshop took place on Thursday (4 December) morning in the conference room of the Old Administrative Building. The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Dr. Md. Jahangir Alam, attended as the chief guest and officially inaugurated the event.

In his speech, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Jahangir Alam said, “Over 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by oceans, which are extremely important for our lives. Marine geohazards, such as earthquakes and landslides, pose serious threats to people living in coastal areas. Approximately 35 million people reside in Bangladesh’s coastal regions. Pollution and waste flowing into the oceans further increase environmental risks. Strengthening early warning systems and improving scientific understanding of these risks is essential to protect vulnerable populations.”

He added, “Rapid urbanization in Bangladesh and other developing countries is closely linked to climate-related challenges. Oceans play a crucial role in regulating the Earth’s climate by absorbing vast amounts of carbon dioxide. Advancing knowledge in this area is vital for sustainable climate forecasting and effective climate action. Research on oceanic carbon dynamics is particularly important for the sustainable development of coastal communities. I strongly believe that joint research with a major country like China will yield valuable results and strengthen our scientific capabilities. The challenges we are discussing are not limited to a single country. Addressing them requires international cooperation, data sharing, and strong partnerships with China and other nations. I hope this workshop will play an important role in acquiring the knowledge necessary to protect our planet.”

During the inaugural session, special guest speakers included the university’s Treasurer Professor Dr. Zainul Abedin Siddiqui and Dr. Jin Shan, a scientist from China’s First Institute of Oceanography (FIO). The university’s Acting Registrar Professor Dr. Md. Mizanur Rahman delivered the welcome address, while Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering Professor Dr. A H M Kamal gave the felicitation speech. The session was chaired by the Director of the Institutional Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), Professor Dr. Md. Sahabuddin.

Other distinguished attendees included the Deans of the Faculty of Arts, Professor Dr. Mohammad Imdadul Huda; Faculty of Social Sciences, Professor Dr. Md. Bakhtiar Uddin; Faculty of Business Administration, Professor Dr. Sakhawat Hossain Sarkar; and Faculty of Fine Arts, Professor Dr. Mohammad Emdadur Rashed (Rashed-Sukhan). Resource persons included scientists from China’s FIO—Dr. Jin Shan, Dr. Yonggui Yu, Dr. Shumin Jiang—and university faculty members, Professor Dr. Ashraf Ali Siddiqui and Lecturer Md. Habibur Rahman Habib from the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering.

The inaugural session was conducted by Additional Director of IQAC, Professor Dr. Tushar Kanti Saha. Present at the session were deans, department heads, faculty members, and students from the Departments of Environmental Science and Engineering, Folklore, Public Administration and Governance, Social Sciences, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and Anthropology.