Australia helps local NGO with river management on World Environment Day
To mark World Environment Day, the Australian High Commissioner Dr Justin Lee, on 4 June, presented a cheque of Taka 8.95 lac to Nowzuman a local Bangladesh NGO that is developing poor fish collectors and safeguarding the river Halda in Chittagong.
Dr Lee said during the cheque handover to Nowzuman Chief Executive, Mr Imam Hossain Chowdhury, that rivers are the arteries of Bangladesh and need protection from various threats including encroachment, pollution and over-exploitation. He congratulated Nowzuman on its project which will help protect the river Halda one of Bangladesh’s largest natural breeding grounds of carp.
The Halda river, a tributary of the Karnafuli river near the city of Chittagong, has been suffering from over fishing, including the catching of wild mother carp, pollution and the construction of sluice gates. Nowzuman will teach local fishermen, officials and other stakeholders about integrated resource management and alternative livelihood options, including during the non-fishing season. It will also provide fishermen with their own fishing equipment, reducing their need to go into debt to fund fishing activities each season.
Dr Lee also said, “World Environment Day is intended to empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development and to build understanding among communities that their actions are pivotal to protecting the environment. Nowzuman’s project meets all of these objectives and is a worthy recipient of this grant on this occasion.”
On the same occasion, Dr Lee also handed over a cheque of Taka 6.98 lac to Mr Harun-Ur-Rashid, Executive Director of Light House, an NGO based in Bogura, which is providing livestock and poultry packages, including training in rearing techniques, to vulnerable widows in Kahaloo and Dupchachia upazillas.
The grants were provided under the High Commission’s Direct Aid Program (DAP). With yesterday’s funding, the 2008-09 DAP scheme ended. This year AUD1,32,000 was given to nine NGOs from across Bangladesh. The Mission expects to call for fresh proposals under DAP 2009-10 in late July 2009 which will be announced through its website.
Australian High Commission, Dhaka, 04 June 2009
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