Home ›› National

ONLINE EDITION

Rotary’s contribution remarkable to Bangladesh’s progress: Speakers

Staff Correspondent
22 May 2022 22:12:03 | Update: 23 May 2022 00:14:45
Rotary’s contribution remarkable to Bangladesh’s progress: Speakers
The Rotary Club of Gulshan Tigers in collaboration with 22 other clubs organises a roundtable discussion in Dhaka on Saturday — Courtesy Photo

The Rotary Club has been playing a significant role in ensuring Bangladesh’s sustainable development with its various initiatives, including polio eradication, greening, women empowerment, education and even fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.

The panellists came up with the observation while addressing a roundtable discussion at the Bangabandhu Military Museum in Dhaka on Saturday.

The Rotary Club of Gulshan Tigers in collaboration with 22 other clubs organised the discussion styled ‘Rotary’s Contribution to Bangladesh’s Progress during the Past 50 Years of Independence’ under Obhijan project.

The speakers said that Rotary has played a vital role in the progress of Bangladesh over the past several years and it needs to take initiatives through strategic planning to make them more effective.

Dhaka University Mass Communication and Journalism Department Prof Robaet Ferdous moderated the discussion.

Member of Parliament Mohammad Abdus Shahid said the spread of drugs has become one of the challenges for the progress of the country.

“We have to be united to save our young generation from the devastating effects of the menace. Rotary should come forward with a community awareness message to prevent drug abuse,” he added.

Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) Chief Executive Syeda Rizwana Hasan said that although the development is needed, it must be environment friendly.

The Dhaka city has only 7 per cent greenery whereas it requires having at least 25 per cent, she said.

“Rotary has to work under the same umbrella with similar organisations to protect the environment and make Bangladesh greener,” Rizwana said.

Policy Research Institute (PRI) Senior Economist Dr Ashikur Rahman said Bangladesh has made remarkable progress over the past 50 years of independence while much more challenges are lying ahead.

“Rotary is doing well for humanity but it needs to focus on growing human skills to fight the upcoming challenges like industrial revolution and disaster management.”

Former education secretary Nazrul Islam Khan said that despite Bangladesh managed to make progress in education but the country is still far behind in the Global Innovation Index.

Mentioning that the education system is only 15 per cent technical, he stressed the importance of spreading technical education where Rotary can play a strong role with the initiatives of skill development.

Director of Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BWCCI) Priti Chakraborty, Country Director of WaterAid Bangladesh Hasin Jahan, Rotary’s District Governor Mutasim Billah Faruqui, and Rotarian AKM Mohiuddin Palash, among others, also spoke at the event.

×