Members


SHARIF JAMIL, Buriganga Riverkeeper
Coordinator, Waterkeepers Bangladesh and former General Secretary, Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA)
Other involvements:
Council Member, Waterkeeper Alliance
Executive Member, People’s SAARC Water Forum, Bangladesh (PSAARC WFB)
Member, South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR)
Executive Member, National Committee for Saving the Sundarbans (NCSS)
Executive Member, National River Saving Movement (JNRA)
National Coordinator, Save Indigenous Environment Movement (APRA)
Executive Director, Blue Planet Initiative (BPI)

Buriganga Riverkeeper

The Buriganga Riverkeeper, Sharif Jamil, is an internationally recognized leader and activist in the global environmental movement. For more than a decade he has organized civic action for environmental justice in Bangladesh through involvement in the country’s largest civil society initiative, Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA). As a member and General Secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), Sharif Jamil has worked to save the country’s rivers, wetlands, forests, and urban green spaces, and to protect the rights of indigenous groups whose livelihoods depend on environmental preservation in Bangladesh.

Sharif Jamil has consulted closely with the Waterkeeper Alliance starting in 2009 through attendance at regional and global meetings and conferences. In 2014, he was elected as the International Regional Representative in the Waterkeeper Council. He has networked with local community leaders along the Buriganga River and met with civil society leaders and policymakers in Bangladesh.

In 2007 Sharif Jamil was awarded by Both ENDS with a Joke Waller Hunter Fellowship as a prospective leader in environmental movement among the developing countries in the world. With what he has learned, he trains others and sets up programs in other areas to engage more people in saving the natural water resources of Bangladesh. He has been serving also as the Coordinator of Waterkeepers Bangladesh since June 2015.

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


Ibnul Syed, Voice of the Old Brahmaputra River, a Waterkeepers Bangladesh Affiliate
Other involvements:
Chairman of Nirapad Development Foundation
Executive Member of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA)
Chairman of Youth School for Social Entrepreneurs
Editor of abashannews24.com (Online News Portal)
Convenor of Sommilito Jaladar Rakkha Andolon
Executive Director of South Asian Institute for Social Transformation.
Co-ordinator of SEL Charitable Foundation.