The Secretary of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tract Affairs, Naba Bikram Kishore Tripura, was recently nominated Chair for 2016 of the Board of Governors of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), a regional intergovernmental organization based in Kathmandu. The decision was announced at the 46th meeting of the ICIMOD Board of Governors in Kunming, China on 30 November.

ICIMOD was established in 1983 by the eight countries of the Hindu Kush Himalayan region – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan – with the mandate of improving the lives of mountain communities in a healthy mountain environment. Bangladesh is a founding member of ICIMOD.

ICIMOD’s Board of Governors is formed by representatives of the eight regional member countries and seven independent board members. The Government of Bangladesh is represented on the ICIMOD Board by the Secretary of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs. Bangladesh has been playing significant role in guiding the policies and strategies of ICIMOD through the active contribution of the board member from Bangladesh.

ICIMOD works with a number of partners in Bangladesh on issues related to sustainable mountain development. In November, Mr Tripura launched a framework for sustainable development in the Chittagong Hill Tracts at a meeting in Kathmandu. The framework, developed by ICIMOD and the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, outlines steps needed to improve the lives and livelihoods of local communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

ICIMOD, together with the Hill District Council of Bandarban District, is implementing a community-based tourism project to improve livelihood options and increase the income of local people through increased tourism services.

In collaboration with organizations in Bangladesh – including the Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies, Bangladesh Water Development Board, Bangladesh Metrological Department, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization, Bangladeshi Centre for Environmental and Geographic Information Services, Institute of Water Modelling, and Arannayk Foundation –ICIMOD is strengthening flood early warning systems and establishing a regional flood information system.

The next ICIMOD Board meeting will take place in Bangladesh in November 2016.

For more information please contact:

Dr Golam Rasul, Theme Leader – Livelihoods, ICIMOD
Tel +977-1-5003222
Email: golam.rasul@icimod.org

Ms Nira Gurung, Senior Communications Officer, ICIMOD
Tel +977-1-5003222
Email: nira.gurung@icimod.org