The Ocean Policy Research Institute of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (OPRI-SPF) and the Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) held an online kick-off meeting for joint research on applying the Climate Ocean Risk Vulnerability Index (CORVI) to the City of Chittagong, on Wednesday, October 7th, 2020. (Click here for more information on the study of CORVI: https://www.spf.org/opri/en/news/20190723.html).

At the kick-off meeting, lively discussions took place under the chairmanship of Dr. Emadul Islam, Lead & Coordinator of the CORVI Project in Bangladesh.

At the outset, Dr. Sarwar Uddin Ahmed, Professor and Acting Dean of School of Business and Entrepreneurship of IUB, welcomed all the participants. Dr. Ahmed emphasized that the university is a place not only to convey existing knowledge but also to create new knowledge, and the CORVI survey is an important opportunity for IUB to achieve the latter purpose. It was also pointed out that for Bangladesh, which is vulnerable to climate and marine risks, this study is an important one, with implications for the survival of the populace.
 
Dr. Milan Pagon, Professor and Acting Vice President of IUB, followed by emphasizing that this kind of joint research is a welcome effort for IUB, as part of the overall international joint research projects carried out by the university. In addition, Dr. Pagon reiterated the significance of the CORVI study on marine and climate change risks, and he also referred to the recently held webinar entitled "Regional importance of the Bay of Bengal for Bangladesh and its landlocked and littoral neighbors." He also mentioned COVID-19, and pointed out the importance of scientific data-based decision-making to overcome this difficult situation. He also made a point about the need for data-based research, such as CORVI.

Dr. Miko Maekawa, Senior Research Fellow of OPRI-SPF, introduced OPRI-SPF and outlined the CORVI survey so far. Mr. Hajime Tanaka, Research Fellow of OPRI-SPF and in charge of CORVI research in Bangladesh, presented the methodology of CORVI, tentative results of the previous research in Fiji, and the research plan in Bangladesh.

Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan, Professor of the Department of Development Studies, University of Dhaka, and an adviser on the CORVI research in Bangladesh, emphasized that the CORVI study in Bangladesh is strategically important. He stated that Bangladesh had secured 19,467 square kilometers of the 25,602 square kilometers of water that had been a focus of conflict with India over territorial rights, and pointed out that the importance of ocean management in the country is increasing. The CORVI study has the potential to contribute to the current decision-making by the Bangladeshi government. Research results are rarely used for government decision-making, but if the research tools are applied in response to the needs of government decision-makers, CORVI research outcomes could serve as a useful input to the government decision making process. Ultimately, it could contribute to the development of the blue economy as a whole in the country. Chittagong, the target area, is the so-called "gateway" of Bangladesh, and therefore CORVI could make concrete contributions in this sense as well.
 
Dr. Atsushi Sunami, President of SPF and OPRI, welcomed the launch of the survey focusing on ocean risks and opportunities, which is a common concern between Japan and Bangladesh. Dr. Sunami introduced his involvement in Bangladesh to date, and touched on the importance of exchanges between researchers in the country and Japan, and the significance of Chittagong in analyzing the country's marine problems. He concluded that he is very much looking forward to visiting Chittagong possibly next year and having face-to-face dialogues with the collaborators in the country.

In closing the meeting, Dr. Shahriar Kabir, Associate Professor and Acting Head of the Department of Economics, School of Business and Entrepreneurship of IUB, expressed his gratitude to the speakers and expectations for joint research.

OPRI-SPF will carry out and develop CORVI research in Bangladesh over a period of about two years, widely share knowledge on climate change and risks related to the ocean, and deepen understanding and disseminate a wide range of ocean issues.