The Opening Ceremony of the 2nd CIRDAP-BARD Flagship Training Programme on Regional Integrated Rural Development, Governance, Trade, and Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific was held on 04 November 2023 at CIRDAP International Conference Centre (CICC), Dhaka. The training programme is scheduled to run from November 4th to November 26th, 2023, encompassing a comprehensive period of 23 days.
The Honorable Minister, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Mr. Md. Tazul Islam, MP embraced the opening ceremony as the Chief Guest and he graced the occasion with an inspirational speech that outlined his vision for the programme and encouraged all participants.
At the ceremony, H.E Dr. Pornchai Danvivathana, Secretary General of Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD); Mr. Md. Harun-or-Rashid Mollah, Director General of Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD); Dr. Cherdsak Virapat Director General, of the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP); and Dr. Somporn Hanpongpandh, former Director General of CIRDAP, course Director for this programme, also graced the occasion with their presence. Dr. Cherdsak Virapat, Director General, CIRDAP and Mr. Harun-or-Rashid Mollah, Director General, BARD offered address of welcome in the ceremony.
This three week comprehensive training programme is organized by the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) in collaboration with Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD).The curriculum covers a wide range of topics on three modules module 1: Integrated Rural Development Framework, Trade, Sustainable Development & Multi-lateral treaties on Environmental Legal Issues; module 2: Adaptive Management in Rural Development in Asia and the Pacific Region; and module 3: Policy Formulation and Comprehensive Implementation.
This year 24 participants from the different nation-states are attending the regional training. Eleven countries from the Asia-Pacific regions (also CIRDAP member countries) which are Bangladesh, Fiji, India, Indonesia, IR Iran, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand; and two countries from African nation which are Ghana and Mauritius.