Special Conference on

Urbanization, Traffic Jam, and Environment

Date: January 8, 2011

Venue: Bangladesh Management Academy

Mirpur Road, Sobhanbag, Dhaka

Organized by

Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA)

Bangladesh Environment Network (BEN)

In association with major universities and other pro-environment organizations of Bangladesh

Program

Program summary

9:00-10:30 am: Concurrent expert sessions (A1-A6)

10:30-11:00 am: Tea Break

11:00-12:00 noon: Inaugural Session

12:00-1:30 pm: Plenary Session-I

1:30-2:30 pm: Lunch

2:30-4:00 pm: Concurrent expert and general sessions (B1-B5) and (G1-G3)

4:00-5:30 pm: Plenary Session-II

5:30-6:00 pm: Tea Break

6:00-6:30 pm: Strategy session

6:30-7:30 pm: Concluding session

Detailed Program

9:00-10:30 am

Concurrent expert sessions (A1-A6)

Session A1 (Room 1)9:00-10:30 am

Topic: Urban Traffic Problems

Chair:

Co-chair:

Organizer:

Presentations:

M. M. Morshed, M. A. Talukdar and M. M. Islam

Traffic jam and planning process for Dhaka city: A trans-disciplinary approach

Abdullah All Rafee and Mahfuzur Rahman

Access management of arterial roads in Khulna city

Md. Salequzzaman, S.M. Tariqul Islam, Md. Sahin Iqbal, ASM Atikur Rahman Sayed, Md. Shajahan Nannu, Md. Noor Jalal, Md. Shariful Alam, Mostafa Shiddiquzzaman and Mohidul Hoque Khan

Urbanization and traffic jam issues in Jessore and its surroundings

Sudhirendar Sharma, Environmentalist and Development Analyst, New Delhi,

Urban traffic: nightmare on the road

Tanvir Hossain, Mahbubur Rahman, Razu Ahmmed and Md. Kamruzzaman Mamun,

Department of Civil Engineering, Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology, Gazipur,

Interaction between the motorist and pedestrian at selected un-signalized crossings in Bangladesh: A Case Study

Session A2 (Room 2), 9:00-10:30 am

Topic: Air Pollution

Chair:

Co-chair:

Organizer:

Presentations:

Golam Kabir, Sunoco Inc, PA, USA,

Air Pollution in Dhaka

Md. Rakibul Islam Roni, Mustafa Kamal and Hena Baroi

Impact of industrial air pollution on human health: A comparative study in residential areas

M. A. I. Chowdhury, B. K. Banik, R. Alam, M. J. Hossain, and M.B. Haque

Seasonal fluctuations on NO2 concentration at different intersection of Sylhet city

Riazuddin Kawsar

Effect of planning features on pollutant concentration in Dhaka city

Session A3 (Room 3), 9:00-10:30 am

Topic: Industrialization, drainage, waste management, and pollution

Chair:

Co-chair:

Organizer:

Presentations:

Shahjahan Ahmed and Mohd. Shamsul Alam

Rainfall in Chittagong city and aspects of drainage congestion problem: A historical perspective

Shamima Aktar and Md. Ashikuzzaman

Effects of urbanization on urban water bodies in Khulna City Corporation area

M. A. Islam, Q. H. Bari, K. M. Hassan, and M. M. Rahman

Effect of unplanned industrialization on urban environment: A case study in Natore

Raihana Pervin and Sheikh Ashraf Uz Zaman

Household waste management in Dhaka city for better environment

Session A4 (Room 4), 9:00-10:30 am

Topic: Housing policies and planning

Chair:

Co-chair:

Organizer:

Presentations:

S.M. Shah Mahmood

Execution and violation of setback rule in eastern fringe areas of Dhaka city

Jubaida Gulshan Ara, Mohammed Moniruzzaman Miah

Policy of housing for slum dwellers

Sardar Masud Karim

Planning for Sydney: Performance, lessons learned, and future

Tania Taher Lata, Tabassum Zarin and Khandaker Ashifuzzaman

Hidden possibilities of FAR in the context of Dhaka’s residential areas

Session A5 (Room 5), 9:00-10:30 am

Topic: Fire Hazard

Chair:

Co-chair:

Organizer:

Presentations:

Saima Rahman and Md. Kamrul Hasan

Increasing menace of fire hazard as a consequence of unplanned urbanization

Annesha Das Hasi, Bushra Islam, Afrin Hossain and Momenun Nessa

Preparedness for urban fire hazards

Sanjib Barua, Mizanur Rahman, Mania Tahsina Taher

Urban fire safety issues in slum areas: Dhaka episode

Session A6 (Room 6), 9:00 – 10:30 am

Topic: Health effects of urbanization

Chair: Shishir Majumder, Department of Community Medicine, National Medical College, Dhaka

Co-chair:

Organizer: M. A. Matin (BAPA) and Ziauddin Ahmed (BEN)

Introduction on BAPA EHP (Environment Health Program) by S. K. Roy (ICDDRB), Convener of BAPA EHP (10 minutes)

Introduction of BEN Health Panel by Ziauddin Ahmed, Chair of BEN Health Panel (10 minutes)

Presentations:

Ziauddin Ahmed (Drexel University, USA)

Health hazard of inappropriate waste disposal (15 minutes)

Meerjady Sabrina Flora (NIPSOM)

Urban Health Challenges in Bangladesh: Perspective Environment (15 minutes)

Arifur Rahman (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)

Effects of traffic accidents in the society (15 minutes).

M. H. Faruqee(State University of Bangladesh)

Urban Health in the new National Health Policy (10 minutes)

Comments from the audience (10 minutes)

Closing Remarks by the Chair (05 minutes)

10:30 – 11:00: Tea Break

11:00-12:00: Inaugural Session(Auditorium)

Chair: Muzaffar Ahmad, President BAPA

Chief guest:

Special guest:

Speakers:

12:00 noon – 1:30 pm: Plenary Session I

Topic: Sustainable urbanization in Bangladesh

Chair: Rehman Sobhan (Centre for Policy Dialogue) (TBC)

Co-chair:

Organizer:

Initial presentation by Nazrul Islam(BEN and BAPA)

Discussants (TBC):

Nazrul Islam (University Grants Commission)

Sarwar Jahan (Bangladesh Institute of Planners)

Saber Hossain Chowdhury, MP (Awami League)

Mirza Faqrul Islam (Bangladesh Nationalist Party, BNP)

Rashed Khan Menon, MP (Workers’ Party)

Others

1:30-2:30 pm: Lunch

2:30-4:00 pm: Concurrent expert sessions (B1-B5) and general sessions (G1-G3)

Session B1 (Room 1), 2:30-4:00 pm

Topic: Governance, infrastructure, planning, economic and management aspects

Chair:

Co-chair:

Organizer:

Presentations:

Salim Rashid, University of Illinois, USA,

Output loss due to congestion: Theoretical considerations

Mahmud Farooque , Arizona State University, USA,

From reactive governance to anticipatory governance: Engaging experts and citizens

Ferdouse Oneza, ICF International, Washington State, USA,

Lessons to Learn from Regulations and Policies of Washington State, USA

Shahed Khan, Mohammad Shahidul Hasan Swapan, Curtin University, Perth, Australia,

Technological innovation in urban planning of Bangladesh: Speeding up planning administration or enhanced community engagement?

Session B2 (Room 2), 2:30-4:00 pm

Topic: Climate change, flooding, rural to urban migration

Chair:

Co-chair:

Organizer:

Presentations:

Mohammad Zaman , Society for Bangladesh Climate Justice, Vancouver, Canada,

Climate Change Impacts and Urban Migration: Confronting the Looming Crisis,

Saleh Ahmed, ‘Sapienza’ University of Rome, Italy,

Climate Induced Migration and the Human Impacts on Megacity Dhaka: A Scenario Analysis

Albelee Haque, Shiba Kar, Xin Yuan, *Farhana Sharmin,

Bangladesh Environment Network, USA, Pennsylvania State Univ., USA

Impact Environmental Consulting, NY, USA, Practical Action (Bangladesh),

Regional Approach to Climate Change Climate change exigencies: The Ecosystem, Streamflow and Fisheries management perspectives.

Manoranjan Pegu

Urbanization and rural-urban migration in Bangladesh: A macro review

Session B3 (Room 3), 2:30-4:00 pm

Topic:Urbanization and quality of life

Chair:

Co-chair:

Organizer:

Presentations:

Sharif Shams Imon and Mahbubur Rahman, Institute for Tourism Studies, Macao and

Universiti Teknologi, Malaysia

Can Historic Waterfront Conservation Help Improve the Quality of Life in Old Dhaka?

Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, K. M. Nazmul Islam, K. Maudood Elahi and Jussi Dayna Biswas

Evaluation of traffic noise pollution and exposed individuals’ perception of Dhaka city

Qazi Azizul Mowla

Integrating heritage artifacts into the urban fabric of Dhaka

Tanima Tabassum and Samia Sharmin

The impact of shrinkage of green space on Dhaka city’s local thermal environment

Session B4 (Room 4), 2:30-4:00 pm

Topic: Other issues of urbanization

Chair:

Co-chair:

Organizer:

Presentations:

Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, K. M. Nazmul Islam and Md. Abu Taiyeb Chowdhury

Environmental impacts of commercial land-use in residential areas: A comparative study

Mohammod Irfan, Denver University,USA,

Infrastructure 2030 – The Big Push ahead for Bangladesh,

Shaila Jamal , Sonia Rahman, Ishrat Islam, and Md. Musleh Uddin Hasan

Coping mechanism for utility crises in middle income areas of Dhaka

Tanveer Islam, NOAA and Environmental Cooperative Science Center, Florida, USA,

Urbanization and planning in Dhaka--crisis and possibilities (in Bangla),

Session G1 (Room 5), 2:30-4:00 pm

Topic: Issues of urbanization outside Dhaka city

Chair:

Co-chair:

Organizer: Sharif Jamil

Initial presentation by Mohidul Hoque (BAPA)

Session G2 (Room 6), 2:30-4:00 pm

Topic: Traffic jam, its impact, and ways to overcome it

Chair:

Co-chair:

Organizer:

Initial presentation by BAPA and BEN

Plenary Session II: 4:00-5:30 pm

Topic: Urbanization issues of Bangladesh

Chair:

Co-chair:

Organizer:

Presentations:

M. Khalequzzaman, Lockhaven University, USA,

A critique of the Feasibility study of Dhaka Integrated Flood Control Embankmentcum Eastern Bypass Road Multipurpose project

Salim Rashid, University of Illinois, USA,

Compact Townships as a component of sustainable urbanization in Bangladesh

Waziuddin Saud Chowdhury, Architect, San Francisco, USA,

Density, chaos and sustainability in Dhaka

Mahbubur Rahman, Universiti Teknologi, Malaysia,

Building Construction Rules--Search for an accountable, sustainable and participatory environment

5:30 – 6:00 pm: Tea Break

6:00-6:30 pm: Strategy Session (Auditorium)

Topic: Resolution of the conference

Chair:

Co-chair:

Organizer:

Presentation of the draft resolution

Discussion on the draft

Adoption of the resolution

6:30-7:30: Concluding Session (Auditorium)

Chair:

Chief guest:

Special guest:

Speakers:

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