BIGD researchers and officials, along Brussels based 'Cities Alliance' Asia Regional Adviser, Dr. Ajay Suri met the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sylhet City Corporation (SCC), Mr. Enamul Habib on January 22, 2017 at his office. The visiting team briefed the CEO about the 18-month long global joint work programme on “Equitable Economic Growth in Cities”. Within the auspice of this programme two studies will be conducted and evidence-based policy briefs will be produced. These knowledge products will be shared with city level partnership forum comprising with relevant stakeholders and endorsed by the City Corporation. The CEO agreed to join this global campaign and nominated two SCC’s officials – Md. Ruhul Alam, Executive Engineer (Electrical) and Mr. Joydeb Biswas, Assistant Engineer of SCC as focal point. BIGD’s Research Fellow Dr. Md. Shanawez Hossain, Senior Manager (Communications) Mr. Ekram Hossain, Senior Research Associate Mr. Mohammad Sirajul Islam, and Research Associate Mr. Raihan Ahamed, were present at the meeting.
Before, Dr. Salina Hyat Ivi, Mayor of Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) expressed her willingness to join this programme. BIGD will facilitate partnership and conduct city diagnostics to support this programme in two secondary cities in Bangladesh i.e. NCC and SCC. The joint work programme on “Equitable Economic Growth in Cities'” is being globally implemented by Brussels based Cities Alliance, United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).