Department of Civil Engineering (UAP) Organized Professorial Lecture
By
Honorable Professor Dr. Ainun Nishat

The Department of Civil Engineering (CE) of the University of Asia Pacific (UAP) organized a Professorial Lecture on ‘Experience of Padma Bridge: Construction and Management’ at the UAP auditorium on 9th March 2023. Pioneer expert of Water Resource Management and Climate Change, Professor Dr. Ainun Nishat, addressed the session as keynote speaker.

Professor Dr. Ainun Nishat is recognized as a leading expert of water resource management and climate change in Bangladesh. He did PhD in Civil Engineering from University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, U.K. in 1981. He achieved M.Sc in Civil Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), 1975. At present he is involved in BRAC University as Professor Emeritus, he was former Vice Chancellor of that university. He was the Country Representative, Bangladesh and followed by Senior Advisor Climate Change, Asia Region in International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). He started his career as Assistant Engineer at the Water Development Board and later on he joined in BUET as a lecturer in 1972 in the Civil Engineering Department and become a Professor in 1985. Professor Dr Nishat is a key member of the Climate Change Negotiation Team for Bangladesh and represented Bangladesh at the United Nations Climate Change Conferences (CoP) since Bali, Indonesia at CoP 13 till today. He is also a member of the Compliance Committee of the Kyoto Protocol of the UNFCCC since 2006. As an expert in water resource management, he was a member of the Indo-Bangladesh Joint River Commission and played a vital role in the Ganges Water Treaty Negotiations that were finalized in 1996. He was a member of the Panel of Experts who consulted the construction of the Jamuna Bridge, the longest bridge in Bangladesh and currently a member of the Panel of Experts consulting the construction of the Padma Bridge.

Honorable panel of experts of Padma Bridge, Professor Dr. M. Shamim Z. Bosunia, Professor Emeritus, UAP and Professor Dr. M. Feroze Ahmed, Professor Emeritus, Stamford University were invited as panel of discussants of the seminar. The discussions were conducted by Professor Dr. M. Feroze Ahmed and Professor Dr Md Abdur Rouf.

The seminar was chaired by Dr. M. Alauddin, Honorable Chairperson, Board of Trustees (BOT), UAP. Honorable Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Qumrul Ahsan was Chief Guest and Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Sultan Mahmud was Guest of Honor of the seminar. Treasurer of UAP, Dean School of Engineering Professor Dr. Muhammad Mizanur Rahaman, Deans of Schools, Heads of Departments, Faculty Members were presented as invited guests.

Honorable keynote speaker and panel of discussants were welcomed with token of flowers by Honorable Vice-Chancellor, accompanied by Chairperson (BOT), Pro-Vice Chancellor, Dean (School of Engineering) and Head of the Department. The lecture Series started with the appreciation note by Dr. Md Ashraful Alam, Associate Professor and Head, Department of Civil Engineering. Chief Guest, Honorable Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Qumrul Ahsan addressed the Keynote Speaker and Panel of Discussant through his welcoming speech. A total of 250 participants attended in the seminar. Honorable Chair of the session, Dr. M. Alauddin delivered vote of thanks to appreciate the speakers sharing state art of knowledge to faculty members and students of UAP.

Finally, the session was closed by closing remarks of Dean, School of Engineering, Professor Dr. Muhammad Mizanur Rahaman. In honor of the keynote speaker and panel of the discussants, crests and good luck tree pots were presented to them on behalf of the Department of Civil Engineering. At the end, the distinguished speakers, Vice Chancellor, Chairperson of BOT, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Treasurer, Deans, faculty members were requested for group photo with participants and students.