BASUG symposium on Jute instead of Plastic held in Germany
Ansar Ahmed Ullah
Contributing Editor,Shottobani
London: BASUG, Europe based development & diaspora group, held a symposium on Jute instead of Plastic on 11 Sept in Mönchengladbach. The workshop was inaugurated by the Honorable Ambassador of Bangladesh in Germany Md Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan NDC as chief guest, while BASUG Chairman Bikash Chowdhury Barua was in the chair.
Dr Mona Pursey, Regional Facilitator from Eine Welft Forum, Aachen and Honorary Consul General Hasnat Mia addressed the opening session. Commercial Counsellor of Bangladesh Embassy in Berlin M Saiful Islam, Development Educator from Vamos e.V. Marleen Stanetzky and Co-Founder of AltEco Dr. M A K Azad presented papers in the technical session. BASUG Project Director and Intercultural Facilitator of One World Network NRW AHM Abdul Hai presented the mapping report on jute and plastic and conducted the technical sessions.
Ambassador Md. Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan emphasised the close partnership between the two countries based on their common values. It is therefore important that the transfer of innovation and knowledge be further expanded.
“Using jute won’t be a magical solution, but it will be a very good approach to achieving a plastic-free morning,” underscored Bikash Chowdhury Barua, Chairman of BASUG Diaspora and Development. The devastating effects of plastic production and use are falling back on the future of human beings, which is why a global approach is essential for coping with this massive task.
This is also what the partnership between Bangladesh and Germany stands for. Engineer Hasnat Mia, Honorary Consul General in NRW of the Bangladesh Embassy, explained that jute must stand out as an industrial product to remove plastic from areas such as the automotive or packaging industry. As the largest producer and exporter of jute, Bangladesh plays a crucial role.
In further speeches by scientists and experts with the involvement of the audience, further possibilities arose on how jute can be used and how jute can offer much more potentials besides the well-known bag. It was clearly described how important it is to break old behaviour patterns and thus achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In the sideline of the event, BASUG, Seraji Foundation, Vamos e.V. and Tante Lemi exhibited their publications, information materials and jute products in the foyer. A number of abstract arts from Poet and Artist Mir Zabeda Yeasmin Imi were also a great attraction in the exhibition. At the end of the symposium, renowned singer Abdul Munim rendered an enchanting musical performance.
BASUG organised the symposium in cooperation with the Meeting Point of Freedom, Peace and Justice and the Youth Club House Westend, Mönchengladbach. Engagement Global along with the financial grant from the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), supported the symposium.