Mahenaz Chowdhury’s short documentary ‘Once There Were Rivers’ was screened at the Independent University of Bangladesh’s Lecture Gallery premise on Saturday.
Organised by IUB’s Green Planet Club, the screening event featured panelists from IUB’s Department of Environmental Science and Management, who discussed questions by the students on a future with clean rivers.
Dr K Ayaz Rabbani, Head, Department of Environmental Science and Management, shared how the film had taken him on a journey that connects the essence of rivers, like Shitalkshya, with the people whose lives depend on it through a different lens.
Dr Abdul Khaleque, Professor, Department of Environmental Science and Management, emphasised why this film is a sign of hope that the new generation leaders and activists acknowledge the seriousness of environmental issues and is taking measures to a new height.
Md Ekhtekharul Islam, Senior Lecturer, IUB Department of Environmental Science and Management and IUB Green Planet Club coordinator, shared telling examples of how everyone on an individual level has to be aware of their environmental impact.
The knowledge exchange between panelists and students reflected future courses of actions that must be taken collectively to create impact. Further, it was discussed that there are excellent conservation and regulatory policies deployed by the Government but are not being implemented effectively.