Members - WATERKEEPERS BANGLADESH

Buriganga Riverkeeper

The Buriganga Riverkeeper, Sharif Jamil, is an internationally recognized leader
and activist in the global environmental and Human Rights movement. For more than
two decades he has been organizing civic action for environmental justice in
Bangladesh through involvement in the country’s largest civil society platforms like
Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) and Dhoritri Rokhhay Amra (DHORA). As the
former General Secretary of BAPA and current Member Secretay of DHORA,
Sharif Jamil has been working to save the country’s rivers, wetlands, forests, urban
green spaces, and to protect the rights of indigenous groups whose livelihoods
depend on environmental preservation in Bangladesh along with demanding climate
justice at the global discousre.
Sharif Jamil has consulted closely with the Waterkeeper Alliance starting in 2009
through attendance at the regional and global meetings and conferences as
Buriganga Riverkeeper, a member of this international organization. He has been
working with the Waterkeeper Alliance as an elected Regional Representative in
the Waterkeeper Council since 2014. On 13 June 2019, he was declared as one of
the 20 Waterkeeper Warriors in the world by the Waterkeeper Alliance on the eve of
the 20th anniversary of this global platform. In June 2024, he was included as a
member to the Board of Directors of Waterkeeper Alliance for the next three
years.

Email Sharif: jamilenv@gmail.com

TOFAZZAL SOHEL, Khowai River Waterkeeper
Other involvements:
National Council Member, Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA)
General Secretary, BAPA, Habiganj
Organizing Secretary, Bangladesh Group Theater Federation, Sylhet Division
General Secretary, PRAKRITOJON, Habiganj
Also, involved with many other social and human rights organizations.

Khowai River Waterkeeper

Tofazzal Sohel has been organizing civil society movements in Habiganj for more than a decade to address social, environmental, and cultural issues. For his dedication and contribution, he is now recognized as one of the most interviewed spokesmen of the social issues in Habiganj. There are hundreds of media reports that covered his interviews and events by now. He is widely accepted by the people, media, and administration of Habiganj as an honest and devoted social worker. Besides many of his success stories, recently he led a unique community revolution to demolish at least 16 four-storied illegal buildings in Habiganj town that were occupying a public wetland.

He organized various movements to save the moral rights of aboriginal peoples in the greater Sylhet division for about 12 years.

He also practiced theatre groups and many other cultural and child organizations for 25 years.

Email Sohel: sohel_wvc@yahoo.com

Abdul Karim Chowdhury Kim, Surma River Waterkeeper
Other involvements:
General Secretary, Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), Sylhet
Member Secretary, Ratargul Swamp Forest Protection Committee
Member, National Committee, Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA)
Member, Sylhet District Forest & Environment Committee
Member, National River Saving Movement
Member, National Committee, Sundarban Saving Movement
Member, Tipaimukh Dam Protection Committee

Surma River Waterkeeper

Abdul Karim Chowdhury Kim has been organizing civil society movements in Sylhet for more than twenty-five years to address social, environmental, and cultural issues. For his dedication and contribution, he is now recognized as one of the most interviewed spokesmen of the environmental issues in Sylhet. He is widely accepted by the people, media, and administration of Sylhet as an honest and devoted social worker.

Abdul Karim Kim started social welfare works by joining the youth organization, “Interact Movement”, of the International service organization “Rotary International”, in 1988 when he was a student at the secondary level. As the Carter Secretary of the “Interact Club of Sylhet Midtown”, which was the first ever Interact Club established in Sylhet, he involved himself in establishing youth leadership and social welfare work since adolescence. Besides social welfare work since 1988 under the “Interact Movement”, later the “Rotaract Movement” and now the “Rotary Movement”, he joined several issues regarding citizen rights locally. In 2007, during the formation of the “Sylhet Environmental Movement (SYPA)”, he took the responsibility of “Member Secretary” as a founder member and has since been active restlessly to preserve the environmental integrity of Sylhet and hence recognized as an Environmental Activist nationally. His voice is admired in various regards, namely river pollution, soil erosion, forest and hill destruction, urbanization, and saving wildlife to save the environment.

The first ever established movement to save the environment, “SYPA” was recognized by Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) as an associate organization. Afterward, “SYPA” was dissolved and Bangladesh Paribesh Andalon (BAPA), Sylhet Branch emerged. Mr. Kim was elected as the General Secretary of BAPA-Sylhet.

He has participated in various seminars, symposiums, workshops, conferences, and conventions related to environmental preservation locally and nationally. He is involved with various movements and organizations locally and nationally that are working for the establishment of citizen rights and the preservation of the environment. Several of his articles related to the Establishment of Citizen Rights and Preservation of Environment have been published in local newspapers. More than hundreds of his interviews and opinions about the environment have been taken by National press media. Recognized as an efficient organizer, Mr. Kim is playing a unique role in creating public awareness by successfully organizing exceptional programs. He has successfully accomplished his responsibilities as one of the organizers of several important events.

Email Kim: a.karim.kim@gmail.com

Sheikh Mohammad Noor Alam, Pashur River Waterkeeper
Other involvements:
Convener Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) Bagerhat District Committee
Former Elected Vice Chairman Mongla Upazila Parishad
General Secretary, Shujan-Susashoner Jonno Nagorik
President-Democratic Budget Movement, Bagerhat District Committee
Member, Member Pran-Prokriti Surokkha Mancho
President, Mongla Nagorik Somaj
Vice President, Upazila Durnitee Protirodh Committee
Member, Sundarban Rokkha National Committee
Member, Bagerhat District River Saving Committee
Co-ordinator, Bagerhat District Peace Ambassadors
Convener, Cultural Coalition, Mongla

Pashur River Waterkeeper

Sheikh Mohammad Noor Alam has been organizing the civil society movement in Mongla for more than a decade to address social, environmental, and cultural issues. For his dedication and contribution, he is now recognized as one of the most renowned activists of the social issues in greater Khulna. He is widely accepted by the people, media, and administration of Mongla as an honest and devoted social worker.

Contact: +8801711058226

E-mail Noor: noormongla@yahoo.com