Bangladeshi Government Officials Graduation 23 June 2006

Swinburne's first group of Bangladeshi officials graduated at Hawthorn Town Hall on Friday 23 June. This included a congratulatory dinner with speeches, a procession and awards.

The graduation ceremony also included a number of distinguished guests:
Mr K M Farhad Hossain, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Food and Disaster Management
Brigadier General Md Rafiqur Rahman, Director General Fire Service and Civil Defence
Professor Jamliur Reza Choudhury, Vice-Chancellor, BRAC University
Mr Ian Rector, Chief Technical Advisor and Team Leader, CDMP
Mr Ross Muir, Director North and South Asia Section, AusAID

Feedback on the program from Staff and Students:

"We know everything about our country, but now we know that we should have these elements, or this type of management policies to work it out all together, with all the different agencies and organisations. This is a very good structured course which made us think in a very structured way about everything that has to do with disaster risk management. We can improve in our way now. We have the vision." Fahmida Khanom, Student

"I was thinking, why do I have to go to Australia. In Australia they don't have that much experience of disasters. In Bangladesh we have so much experience of disasters. But after coming here, through the course modules and design it really is very useful for us to work through our plans and for our future." Hosne Ara Begum, Student

"The group themselves have been really enthusiastic, and really embraced the training. After the first few assignments were in, it was evident the standards were really high" Kath White, Department Manager

"I hope many more students can come to Australia, where they can learn many things, in terms of education and also customs and culture." Md. Kawserul Islam Sikder, Student

"We all came from different places and work in different fields in Bangladesh so it was also a good opportunity for us to meet each other." Hosne Ara Begum, Student

"This course has changed our mentalities, to approach our cause in a more structured way." Salahuddin Ahammad, Student

"I've personally learnt a lot from the group. They've been really inspirational and I've been impressed by their enthusiasm and how seriously they take their roles back home. I've been very interested in their culture and the way their country runs and the challenges faced by the group over there." Bernard Liedtke, Project Manager, IDMC