Khulna: State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr Sheikh Faridul Islam today highlighted the rising salinity intrusion, alongside soil and water pollution, as significant obstacles to sustainable development in Bangladesh’s coastal regions. He addressed these concerns during the inaugural session of a two-day international conference titled “Soil, Water and Environmental Resilience in the Coastal Zone of Bangladesh under a Changing Climate,” held at Khulna University.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the conference, organized by the university’s Soil, Water and Environment Discipline, commenced at the Liaquat Ali Auditorium. Dr Sheikh Faridul Islam emphasized the severe impacts of climate change on the south-western region, including Khulna, describing it as a ‘real climate victim’ due to its geographical vulnerabilities. He expressed concern over frequent natural disasters causing irreparable damage to the region’s lives and livelihoods, stressing the urgent need for adaptation and survival strategies under adverse conditions.
The state minister specifically pointed out that areas like Rampal, Mongla, Koyra, and Satkhira are experiencing intensified salinity intrusion, coupled with soil and water pollution. He underscored the importance of conferences like this in identifying effective, nature-based solutions to tackle these challenges. Referring to the Sundarbans, he called for urgent collective action to protect the world’s largest mangrove forest, highlighting the necessity of environmental conservation for survival.
Dr Sheikh Faridul Islam also emphasized the role of quality research in finding sustainable, long-term solutions and called for increased involvement of students and farmers in such initiatives. Khulna University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Md Rezaul Karim echoed these concerns, noting the direct impact of salinity, water scarcity, and land degradation on coastal communities’ livelihoods.
The event was presided over by Prof Dr Mohammad Jaber Hossain, Head of the Discipline, with Pro-VC Prof Dr Md Harun-Or-Rashid Khan speaking as a special guest. Other speakers included Prof Dr Md Golam Hossain, Chief Conservator of Forests Amir Hossain Chowdhury, and Director of Student Affairs Prof Dr Md Nazmus Sadat. The keynote address was delivered by Prof Dr Xinhua Peng from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
The conference featured more than 200 research papers presented through oral and poster sessions, attracting over 300 delegates from both domestic and international locations, including Japan and China. Following the inaugural session, the state minister visited the country’s first Soil Archive at Khulna University, expressing satisfaction with the collection of soil samples from different regions. He remarked that the archive could open new avenues for research and later participated in a tree-planting activity on the campus.