Successful Completion of the ITD Workshop Titled as “Bridging the Gap: The Role of Development Communication in Advancing the SDGs

The day long ITD workshop on Bridging the Gap: The Role of Development Communication in Advancing the SDGs, organized jointly by the Department of Journalism and Media Communication (JMC), Green University of Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD), was successfully held on 11th November 2024.

A total of 60 students participated in the event, accompanied by our esteemed Advisor, Prof. Dr. Shah Md. Nister Jahan Kabir; Chairperson Dr. Md. Aliur Rahman; Lecturer Monjur Kibriya Bhuiyan and Media Lab Coordinator Kazi Mahadi Muntasir. We departed from the GUB campus at around 8:30 am and arrived at BARD, where we were warmly welcomed by Director of Training, Mr. Abdullah Al Mamun, Junior Director of Training, Mr. Junayed Rahim and Assistant Professor and Head of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at Comilla University, Mr. Kazi M. Anisul Islam, Lecturer Ms. Jakia Jahan Mukta from Comilla University also joined the welcome session and shared an insightful introductory speech about BARD and its mission.

The workshop, part of the 3rd International Conference on Innovation and Transformation for Development (ITD-2024), was meticulously planned by Dr. Biplab Loha Choudhury, Professor at the Centre for Journalism & Mass Communication, Visva-Bharati University, India, who also connected virtually during the session. After a delightful lunch, the workshop commenced, focusing on the key aspects of development communication.

During the workshop, Mr. Kazi M. Anisul Islam and Ms. Jakia Jahan Mukta shared their grassroots-level experiences in development communication, offering a deep understanding of its impact. Junior Director Mr. Junayed Rahim delivered a presentation on the BARD Model, explaining how it effectively contributes to rural development. Our Chairperson, Dr. Md. Aliur Rahman, and Advisor, Prof. Dr. Shah Md. Nister Jahan Kabir, shared their expertise on how rural development communication works across Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka, highlighting its importance in advancing the sustainable development goals (SDGs).
The workshop was facilitated by Lecturer Monjur Kibriya Bhuiyan, while Media Lab Coordinator Kazi Mahadi Muntasir organized the media coverage and promotional activities, ensuring the event reached a wide audience.

After the workshop, the students had the opportunity to explore the natural beauty of the BARD campus, which left them in awe of the organization’s infrastructure and serene environment. We departed from BARD around 5:30 pm, reflecting on the enriching experience we had throughout the day.