Members

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 on 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

Khowai River Waterkeeper

Tofazzal Sohel has been organizing civil society movement 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 mostly 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 to 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 those were occupying a public wetland.

He organizing various movements to save moral right to aboriginal peoples in greater Sylhet division by about 12 years.

He also practicing theatre group and many other cultural and child organization by 25 years.

Email Sohel: sohel_wvc@yahoo.com

Surma River Waterkeeper

Abdul Karim Chowdhury Kim has been organizing civil society movement 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 mostly interviewed spokesmen of the environmental issues in Sylhet. He is widely accepted to 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 of secondary level. As the Carter Secretary of “Interact Club of Sylhet Midtown”, which was the first ever Interact Club established in Sylhet, he involved himself to establish youth leadership and social welfare work since adolescence. Besides social welfare work since 1988 under “Interact Movement”, later “Rotaract Movement” and now “Rotary Movement”, he joined several issues regarding citizen rights locally. In 2007, during the formation of “Sylhet Environmental Movement (SYPA)” he took responsibility of “Member Secretary” as a founder member and since active restlessly to preserve environmental integrity of Sylhet and hence recognized as an Environmental Activist nationally. His voice is admired in various regards, namely river pollution, soil erosion, forests and hill destruction, urbanization, save wildlife to save environment.

The first ever established movement to save 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 movement and organizations locally and nationally who are working for the establishment of citizen rights and preservation of environment. Several of his articles related to Establishment of Citizen Rights and Preservation of Environment have been published in local newspapers. More than hundreds of his interviews and opinion about environment have been taken by National press media. Recognized as an efficient organizer, Mr. Kim is playing a unique role to create public awareness by successfully organizing exceptional programs. He has successfully accomplished his responsibilities as one of the organizers in several important events.

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

Pashur River Waterkeeper

Sheikh Mohammad Noor Alam has been organizing 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 to the people, media and administration of Mongla as an honest and devoted social worker.

Contact: +8801711058226

E-mail Noor: noormongla@yahoo.com