Programs of BPI
Waterkeepers Bangladesh
Waterkeepers Bangladesh has been working to protect the water and water bodies of Bangladesh including its forests resources through enforcement, fieldwork and community action. We work to achieve this goal through social movement, read more
Waterkeepers Bangladesh has been working to protect the water and water bodies of Bangladesh including its forests resources through enforcement, fieldwork and community action. We work to achieve this goal through social movement, advocacy and legal measures that ensure water quality protections. Our litigation, advocacy and community teams conduct interconnected activities that serve this mission.
Waterkeepers Bangladesh is a regional entity of Waterkeeper Alliance, the world’s fastest growing environmental movement that has been working since 1966. Along with over 290 Waterkeeper organizations in 34 countries, our movement works for swimmable, drinkable and fishable waterways worldwide.
At present Waterkeepers Bangladesh is conducting operation in Bangladesh to protect its rivers through Buriganga Riverkeeper, Surma River Waterkeeper, Khowai River Waterkeeper and Pashur River Waterkeeper
Waterkeepers Bangladesh is administered by Blue Planet Initiative (BPI), a non governmental and not for profit organization.
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 read more
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 Joint Secretary of 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.
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 read more
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.
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 read more
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.