A joint training programme on climate risk management in Bangladesh’s delta region, organised by the University of Dhaka and the French Embassy in Dhaka, concluded on Thursday with a certificate distribution ceremony.
The programme, titled “Strengthening Technical Capacity for the Collection, Processing and Analysis of Water-Level Data for Climate Risk Management in the Bangladeshi Delta,” was jointly organised by DU’s International Centre for Ocean Governance (ICOG), Department of Oceanography and the French Embassy.
The closing ceremony was held at the M A Latif Auditorium of the Department of Geology, with DU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr A B M Obaidul Islam as the chief guest.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Dr Abdus Salam chaired the event, while French Ambassador to Bangladesh Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet attended as the guest of honour. Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr Mohammad Almojaddedi Alfechani was present as a special guest.
Speaking at the event, Professor Obaidul Islam said Bangladesh is a deltaic nation living amid a turbulent sea and a changing climate. The more accurately the country's coastline can be measured, he said, the better it can be protected.
He described the training as an important example of international knowledge exchange and transforming scientific expertise into national capacity. He also said the programme would help develop skilled professionals capable of using modern technologies and scientific equipment for coastal research and support Bangladesh’s ambitions in the blue economy.
French Ambassador Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet said Bangladesh is one of the world's largest and most densely populated deltas and faces growing climate-related risks. He stressed that measuring water levels, sea-level rise and land subsidence is essential for developing local policies and strategic adaptation measures.
According to organisers, the programme is part of a broader project funded by the French Embassy that has been running for more than a year.
The training was conducted in two phases—from August 17 to 20 and August 31 to September 3—with 60 teachers, students and officials from different educational institutions and organisations participating.
Certificates were distributed among the participants at the closing ceremony.
