The New Nation - Internet Edition

BUSINESS REPORT

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) Limited in Bangladesh recently took the 10 winning students who took part in the final round of the 'HSBC Environment Champions' to an environmental field trip at Lauachara National Forest Preserve in Srimongol in Sylhet.

The students were shown around the parts of the national forest preserve and learned about the ecosystem there. In addition, they visited the local indigenous village and saw firsthand the living conditions and livelihoods of the local people.

The students, who were accompanied by HSBC staff as well as their families returned back to Dhaka the same day.

HSBC Environment Champions was organised to raise awareness about the environment among the students of Bangladesh. Students of class 8 to 10 from schools across the country were asked to submit their ideas and thoughts about conserving the environment. The programme received a huge response with 194 essays sent from all corners of the country including Khulna, Bandarban, Sylhet, Kurigram and many other areas.

The essays covered a wide range of environmental issues, including electricity and gas consumption, air pollution, carbon dioxide emission reduction and bio gas. Conservation ideas were provided covering a vmiety of fields. The 10 best ideas were selected for presentation in the final round. The students briefly presented their opinions and ideas about conserving the environment in front of a panel of judges. At the end of the presentations, HSBC Bangladesh CEO Steve Banner handed over prizes to the first, second and third prize winners based on the judgment of the panel of judges.

Surobhi Saha Roy from Mohammadpur Preparatory School was the first prize winuer.

She presented her idea of bio-textile technology to prevent soil erosion. The second and third prize winners were Sohel Rana from Rani Bilashmoni Boys High School, Gazipur and Zahidur Rahman from Uttara High School respectively. Sohel Rana presented his idea on proper waste management and Zahidur Rahman presented the effect and solution of "Jhum" cultivation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.