Bangladesh Urban Forum launched

FE ReportThe country's first ever urban platform - Bangladesh Urban Forum (BUF) - was officially launched Thursday to facilitate participation, coordination and promotion of sustainable urban development to ensure that cities and towns work for all. An announcement to this effect came at a press conference jointly organised by the Government of Bangladesh and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at a city hotel. Secretary of Local Government Division Abu Alam Md Shahid Khan chaired the public announcement event where the organisers said that the first session of the forum will be held from 5th to 7th December, 2011 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre. They said the session will give the urban sector stakeholders an opportunity to discuss a wide range of urban issues, from rapid urbanisation to urban poverty, nutrition and health, governance, climate change migration and heritage. National and international experts, mayors from different cities and towns and representatives of civic groups are expected to participate in the event. Shahid Khan said this is the first time that Bangladesh formed an inclusive platform where the urban sector stakeholders, including non-government, private sector, civil society and the urban poor can participate in shaping the country's urban future in a sustainable manner. "This is a unique opportunity for all the stakeholders to positively contribute in the betterment of people's lives in the urban areas and UNDP is proud to be a part of the initiative," UNDP Country Director Stefan Priesner said.