Speakers at the university event highlighted behavioural change, green philosophy and zero-waste initiatives as essential to advancing environmental education and building a sustainable campus through collective action.
Chittagong University in southeastern Bangladesh hosted the day-long “Green Education and Sustainability Summit 2026” on Sunday, bringing together academics, university officials and students to discuss environmental education, sustainable development and the concept of a green campus.
The summit, organised by the university’s environmental organisation Our Green Campus under the theme “Be Part Of The Change Together, For A Greener Tomorrow”, was held at the auditorium of the Faculty of Business Administration.
Special guests included Chittagong University Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) Professor Dr Mohammad Al-Amin and Faculty of Business Administration Dean Professor Dr Mohammad Saleh Jahur. Professor Dr Md Kamal Uddin, chief adviser of Our Green Campus, delivered the keynote address titled “Understanding Green Campus”.
In his keynote speech, Kamal Uddin said policymaking requires a social and philosophical foundation.
“We all work on environmental issues. Scientists, social scientists, business professionals and engineers all work on the environment. But our idea is rooted in a highly academic philosophy and in changing people’s behavioural patterns. We formulate policies, scientists implement those policies and those working with technology develop energy-saving solutions. But if the people who use them and are affected by them do not have pro-environmental behaviour based on a guiding philosophy, none of this will work. That is why we base our philosophy on what we call Green Philosophy,” he said.
“What is Green Philosophy? It is a philosophy that creates a new relationship between you and the environment. That relationship should be positive,” he added.
Following the guest speeches, Professor Dr Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain conducted a session on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the activities of Our Green Campus. Dr Md Arifur Rahman later gave a presentation on creating a zero-waste campus.
The programme also featured a panel discussion on “Building a Sustainable Green Campus”. Panelists included Shamsuddin Elias, Chattogram bureau chief of The Business Standard, Professor Dr Khadija Mitu, Professor Dr Mohammad Shahab Uddin, Associate Professor AGM Niaz Uddin, Professor Dr Md Anwar Hossain and Dr Md Arifur Rahman. The discussion was moderated by Professor Dr Md Kamal Uddin.
Addressing the event as chief guest, Pro-Vice Chancellor Mohammad Al-Amin said education should not be limited to acquiring knowledge but should bring positive changes in people’s behaviour and thinking.
“If a person’s behaviour does not change even after completing an education programme, that education cannot be considered successful,” he said, adding that environmental education helps transform people’s lifestyles, values and sense of responsibility, enabling them to contribute effectively to environmental protection.
He said development that damages the environment and jeopardises the future is unacceptable.
“If we take a position against the environment, nature will eventually respond harshly. Therefore, we must ensure coexistence with nature rather than conflict,” he said.
Al-Amin also noted that the Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences at Chittagong University had received the Prime Minister’s Gold Medal at the national level in recognition of its contribution to promoting environmental education. He thanked the organisers for arranging the summit on environmental education and sustainable development and called for collective efforts to protect the environment.
University Proctor Professor Dr Hossain Shahid Sarwardy, Director of the Student Counselling and Guidance Office Professor Dr Md Anwar Hossain, Chaksu General Secretary Saeed Bin Habib and Assistant General Secretary Aiyubur Rahman Toufik also addressed the event.
Welcoming participants, Our Green Campus President Mujahidul Islam said climate change, environmental pollution and the depletion of natural resources had become pressing realities.
“Protecting the environment is no longer just a social responsibility. It is a question of our future and our existence,” he said.
He added: “We believe Green Education makes people more aware and responsible while Sustainability teaches us how to build a liveable world by maintaining a balance between development and nature. This belief forms the basis of Our Green Campus’s core theme, ‘Boosting Green Futures.’ We also believe that building a sustainable future requires not only technology and policies but also conscious people, responsible education and an environmentally friendly mindset.”
The organisation’s General Secretary Taspia also delivered a welcome address.
Among those attending were Professor Dr Md Enayet Ullah Patwari, dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Professor Dr Syed Muhammad Shamsul Huda, provost of Surya Sen Hall, AGM Niaz Uddin, provost of Atish Dipankar Sri Gyan Hall, representatives of IPSA, invited guests, former and current leaders of Our Green Campus, environmental activists, university teachers and students.
The event was hosted by Tamanna and Urmi and was attended by members of Our Green Campus as well as students and teachers from different departments of the university.
