The SASF 2011 has was inaugurated on November 18, 2011, at the national “Shaheed Minar (the great national monument on memories of the hero’s of Bengali Language martyrs in 1952).

Part of the Inaugural session

More than 20 thousand people actively participated in this inaugural session with different and colorful dress, with band party (a team with huge number of musical instruments-called band party in part of Asia), colorful banners, placards, festoons, artificial masks, dancing and singing too. It was a huge gathering of people of all classes and professions.

The audience of the seminar

In the South Asian Social Forum we, Shelter for the Poor have organized one seminar on the “Climate Change and Urbanization: Perspective Bangladesh” and we have Coordinated a “Plenary” of the “Human Rights and dignity” along with other five human rights based development organizations theme of the SASF 2011. That was our concrete contribution to prepare the inhabitants participation in Rio+20 next June 2012.

Both the program was organized on November 20, 2011.

The Chair and other guests of the seminar

In the morning slot (10am-01pm) of 20 November 2011, we organized the seminar on the “Climate Change and Urbanization : perspective Bangladesh” jointly with other friendly human rights based development organization such as WAI Bangladesh Committee, PDAP, IPD, RHDS, DSK and PRATAY.

Two papers were presented in the seminar, one is from Shelter for the Poor on “Climate Change and Urbanization in Bangladesh”, presented by Mr. Abu Rayhan Al-Beeroonee, and another one presented by the PDADP Executive Director, Ms. Quazi Baby, on “Climate Change, Urbanization and Women Issues: Perspective Bangladesh”.

The Chair speaking on the occasion and the audience of the seminar

More than one hundred people participated in the seminar from different classes and professions of the society, including community people, Government officials, human rights defenders from Bangladesh, India and Nepal, development workers from Bangladesh, France and India, researchers, environment-activists etc.

The paper presenters of the seminar

The seminar was chaired by Mr. Engr.Fowze Bin Farid, Director, Urban Development Directorate, Ministry of Housing and PW, Peoples Republic of Bangladesh. Ms. Maksuda Begum-CO Leader Dhaka, Dr. Mahmudur Rahman,CE-IPD, Mr. AK Palash, Director-PROSHIKA, Ms. Mahbuba begum, ED-BAWSE, Mr. Martin Mukul Roy, D,CD, Habitat for Humanity-BD, Ms. Rebeka Sun-Yat, ED-CUP, Mr. M. Aminul Islam, Director- ADAB, Mr. Birendra Protap Singh from Delhi-India, Dr. MM Hossain, CE-RHDS, Ms. Kanika Chakraborty of Concern Universal and many other people spoke in the seminar.