The Faculty of Architecture and Planning at Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST) organized a colloquial with experts from industry and academia about the nature of the Urban Studies Program on 5^th November, 2022. Pro-VC Prof. Dr. Mahbubur Rahman chaired the session. In the session, speakers addressed current urban issues and problems such as housing, waste management and disposal, transportation planning, policy design, employment opportunity, migration, social discrimination, governance, urbanization, information, infrastructure, gender, landscape, climate, pollution, water, etc. They emphasized on a holistic education that could meet the emerging needs.

To fulfill the dream of father of the nation Bongabondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Pro-VC Prof Dr. Mahbubur Rahman encouraged on developing urban amenities in the rural areas rather than transforming village into a city. In that event, Dr. Khairul Islam (Regional Director, WaterAid), Maqsud Hashem (Chief Town Planner DNCC), Planner Fazle Reza Sumon (President, BIP), Salma A. Shafi (Honorary Secretery, CUS), Dr. K.Z.H. Taufique (UDD Director), Prof. Dr. Golam Moinuddin (Dept. of URP, Jahangirnagar University) and Prof. Zakiul Islam, Head, Department of Architecture, BUET, Prof. Dr. Jasmin Ara Begum (Dean, Faculty of Architecture and planning, AUST), Prof. Dr. Rumana Rashid (Head, Dept. of Arch. AUST), Prof. Dr. Mustafizur Rahman (Treasurer, AUST), Prof. Dr. Md. Shahid Mamun (Dept. of CE, AUST), Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman (Dept. of CE, AUST), Prof. Dr. Farida Nilufar (Dept of Arch, BUET), Prof. Dr. Nurul Islam Nazem (Department of Geography & Environment, Dhaka University), Dr. Mohammad Faruk (Associate Professor, Dept of Arch, BRAC University), Dr. Saiful Momen (Chairman & Assist. Professor, Department Of Environmental Science and Management, North-South University ), Dr. Md. Nawrose Fatemi (Associate Prof. and Head Of Architecture Dept, UAP), Dr. Huraera Zabin (Planner, UNDP), Dr. Adil Mohammed Khan (Planner and Professor, Department Of URP, Jahangirnagar University) and other educators from prominent universities and leaders of Professional Societies also enlightened the event.  The Faculty members of the Department of Architecture of AUST were present.

This was organized in order to be able to set objectives and intended outcomes of such a futuristic educational program. It is to be mentioned that the Faculty of Architecture and planning at AUST is the first of its kind in the private sector in Bangladesh.