Khulna University and Aranyak Foundation, are agreed to jointly monitor and assess the impact of climate change on the ecosystem of the world's largest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans. In addition, to facilitate collaborative initiatives in biodiversity conservation, wildlife preservation, and sustainable eco-tourism development these two organizations signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tuesday (26 December) morning at Khulna
University.
The agreement outlines a collaborative framework for conducting joint research, publications, and implementation in the fields of forests, the environment, and biodiversity. Additionally, the two
organizations will collaborate in expanding Khulna University's natural resource management-related research capabilities.
Both institutions have
unanimously agreed to strengthen climate resilience, and environmental conservation, through exchanges between researchers and specialists and organize joint workshops, seminars, and training sessions.
Under the memorandum, promising students from Khulna University will have internship opportunities at the Aranyak Foundation, to realize
their potential in building environmental careers and leadership.
The document was signed by Professor Amit Roy Chowdhury, Treasurer of Khulna University, and Dr. AZM Manzoor Rashid, Chairperson of Aranyak Foundation and Professor of Forestry and Environmental Sciences at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Mahmood Hossain, Registrar (in-charge) Professor Khan Golam Quddus from Khulna University, Rakibul Hasan Mukul, Executive Director of Aranyak Foundation, and biodiversity conservation specialist Md. Baktiar Nur Siddiqui were also present at the signing ceremony.
Established in 2003,
the Aranyak Foundation has been working towards forest and biodiversity conservation in Bangladesh for the past
two decades. On the other
hand, Khulna University, founded in 1991, currently offers programs in 29
different disciplines, notably the university has brought in an international reputation for its research.