ULAB Department of Environmental Studies and Sustainability

Understanding Forests of Bangladesh, a session led by Professor Mahmood Hossain, Head of the Department and Director of the Center for Sustainable Development, for the ESS students.

The session explored the significance of Bangladesh’s forest ecosystems, the challenges they face, and the importance of sustainable stewardship in building a resilient future. The session was part of ESS's monthly initiative to engage students with emerging environmental issues and perspectives.

On June 9th, the Department of Environmental Studies and Sustainability (ESS) at ULAB marked at our Permanent Campus.

ULAB students presented creative, research-backed eco-concepts to address real-world urban environmental crises through poster presentations and an awareness rally led by on-campus students and faculty, uniting our community for climate action.

A Panel Discussion was also hosted. Experts gathered for “From Grey to Green: Can Nature-Based Solutions Transform Our Cities?” to tackle urban air pollution and plastic waste. Moderated by Dr. Haseeb Md. Irfanullah, Visiting Research Fellow, CSD & ULAB, the panel included Dr. Md. Niamul Naser, Professor, University of Dhaka; Mr. Solaiman Haider, Director, Department of Environment, GoB & Mr. Arif M. Faisal, Programme Specialist, UNDP Bangladesh.

Let’s move away from concrete "grey" and embrace a resilient, "green" Bangladesh! 💚

Sea swallowing our coasts. Rivers eroding our villages. Cyclones reshaping our landscapes.
The planet's crisis has our address.
We emit less than 0.5% of the world's greenhouse gases, yet 13.3 million of us could be displaced by 2050.
Every tree planted, every voice raised, every choice made, it counts.
Protect the environment. Protect Bangladesh.

https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/2be91c76-d023-5809-9c94-d41b71c25635
https://www.themigrationnews.com/news/climate-migration-one-of-the-key-drivers-of-internal-displacement-in-bangladesh/

The hum that once filled our mustard fields and rice paddies is disappearing. Pesticides coat our crops, and bees pay with their lives. Hives collapse overnight. In Thakurgaon, farmers now pollinate flowers by hand, doing the work that bees once did for free.

We are losing them quietly, field by field, hive by hive.
It all rests on the bees. Protect them, and you protect everything that blooms, feeds, and breathes in their wake.
Happy World Bee Day to the tiny wings behind every harvest, every seed, every meal.

Source:
https://theclimatewatch.com/disappearing-bees-force-bangladeshi-farmers-into-hand-pollination/
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/07/honey-bees-in-bangladesh-suffer-from-indiscriminate-pesticide-use/
https://www.thedailystar.net/business/economy/news/bees-bucks-beekeeping-boosts-rural-incomes-3813126?

We welcome our 2nd batch of the ESS Dept. 😄

On 2 May 2026, the Department of Environmental Studies and Sustainability and the Center for Sustainable Development (CSD) at ULAB, as knowledge partners, hosted the International Course on “Environmental Science and Climate Action: A Global South Perspective” offered by C3ER, BRAC University in partnership with Mission Green Bangladesh, the Centre for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS), the University of Dundee, and Asia Hub–Michigan State University.
Delivered in a hybrid format, the program combines online sessions by international instructors with on-campus facilitation and mentorship at partner universities.
As part of the opening session, Ms. Sameera Zaman shared insights into various ongoing and completed climate change initiatives, highlighting practical experiences and local engagement efforts. Dr. Haseeb M Irfanullah conducted an engaging lecture on “Nature-Based Solutions & Ecosystem Restoration,” emphasizing sustainable approaches to environmental resilience and climate action. Together, these sessions set the tone for a dynamic learning experience for the participants from different backgrounds, focused on collaboration, innovation, and sustainability.

Professor Mahmood Hossain, Head, Environmental Studies and Sustainability, and Director, Center for Sustainable Development (CSD), presented the feasibility assessment of the CASMAR project (Carbon Sequestration through Mangrove Afforestation and Restoration) to the Bangladesh Forest Department. The presentation highlighted the scientific framework and key findings of the study, focusing on mangrove plantation potential in coastal char lands of Bangladesh.

This represents one of the first structured feasibility assessments for a carbon sequestration project in Bangladesh, laying the foundation for future carbon market engagement and nature-based climate
solutions.

The assessment evaluates the potential of coastal char lands for large-scale mangrove restoration, plantation, and carbon sequestration. A multi-criteria ecological approach, integrating ecological, hydrological, and anthropogenic factors, was applied across 18 char lands in Barguna, Bhola, and Patuakhali districts to assess the feasibility.

This study was conducted in partnership with Bangladesh Bondhu Foundation (BONDHU), reflecting strong collaboration to advance nature-based solutions and carbon-focused initiatives in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Forest Department | Bangladesh Bondhu Foundation (BONDHU)

May 1st is more than a holiday, it is a reminder that workers' rights were never given freely; they were fought for. In Bangladesh, that fight is deeply personal.

Just a week ago, on April 24th, Bangladesh marked 13 years since the Rana Plaza tragedy, a wound that has never fully healed. An eight-storey building in Savar collapsed in 90 seconds, killing at least 1,136 garment workers and injuring thousands more. Thirteen years on, families and survivors still gather at the memorial site in Savar each April, and justice remains unfinished.

The broader picture is just as sobering. Over 85% of Bangladesh's 70 million-strong labour force works in the informal sector, without formal contracts, social security, or union representation. Women bear a disproportionate burden, facing pay disparities, and limited maternity leave, despite powering the industry that drives the nation's economy.

On this May Day, we honour every worker who keeps this country moving, seen and unseen. Their dignity is not negotiable.

In memory of the lives lost at Rana Plaza. May they never be forgotten.

Source: The Daily Star, The Business Standard.

What an incredible turnout for our Earth Day Event.🌎

A massive THANK YOU to everyone who participated, donated, and helped us celebrate our planet most amazingly. Small swaps lead to big changes, and these past 2 days proved that our community is leading the way. ♻️

We are so proud to be part of such a conscious community.🍃