Dr. Shanawez Hossain, Research Fellow of BIGD participated in the Course Evaluation Meeting with the Trainers & Researchers of the Academy of Work (AoW) on 16 September, 2017 at Friedrich Elbert Stiftung (FES) Office, Dhaka. The aim of the meeting was to discuss success and shortcomings of conducting AoW first batch and to plan the next one. He also attended the BRAC advocacy team meeting on 21 September, 2017 at BRAC to discuss ways to make BIGD’s research work more visible to policy makers by organizing joint events and activities. Both BIGD and BRAC Advocacy shared views about jointly organizing advocacy events. Among others Mr. Sadrul Hasan Mazumder, Programme Coordinator, Advocacy for Social Change, BRAC, Ms. Zeenath Sultana, Partnership Analyst and Ms. Nazia Islam, Policy Analyst of BRAC Advocacy for Social Change and Ms. Nazneen Ahmed and Farzana Siddiqua of BIGD were present in the meeting.
Dr. Hossain also attended the Stakeholder Consultation meeting of Metro Dhaka Transformation Platform on 27 September 2017 at a hotel in the city. The aim of the platform is to discuss sustainable, metropolitan-wide solutions to improve livability and prosperity for the residents of Dhaka, and to define a shared vision for the city and an action plan to pave the way for Dhaka’s transformation. Among others Mr. Peter Ellis, Lead Urban Economist, Social, Urban, Rural and Resilience Global Practice, World Bank; Professor Nazrul Islam, Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman and related experts participated in the event. He also attended the Sharing meeting on "Urban Disaster Preparedness and Response: A Synthesis Review of Public Documents in Bangladesh" held on 27 September, 2017 at a city hotel. The aim of the meeting was to share a Synthesis Review of Public Documents on urban disaster preparedness in Bangladesh. This analysis was done to collate and critically review all relevant public documents on disaster preparedness and response in Bangladesh, assessing the policies, strategies and plans currently in place, in order to determine the strengths and weaknesses of these plans in the event of a major urban crisis. Mr. Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury (Maya) Bir Bikram, Honorable Minister, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR), Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh was Chief Guest in the event. Dr. Maksud Kamal, Professor & Dean Faculty of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Dhaka presented the key note.