Vice Chancellor of Chittagong University (CU) Prof AJM Nuruddin Chowdhury inaugurated the meet. Earlier, the participants came to the meeting venue in a procession from in front of the Chittagong Press Club.

Poet Abul Momen, residential editor of the Prothom Alo, presided over the inaugural function. Shafiqul Islam, Director Operation of Action Aid, an NGO, its South-East Regional Co-coordinator Monzur Rashid, BITA Executive Director Shishir Datta and Chittagong unit president of ADAB Monwara Begum were present as special guests.

The speakers said non-government organisations should do more to change the life of those living in abject poverty. Expansion and proper utilisation of micro-credit can alleviate poverty to a great extent, they said.

They said government efforts in an overpopulated country like Bangladesh can do little to change the life of those living in abject poverty.

Government development programmes must be supplemented by NGOs through projects which will have far reaching consequences. NGOs should not limit their activities to mere loan-giving and realising. They should see whether their loans really help the poor in changing their life and making the next generation literate and self-reliant, they said.

The inaugural session was followed by a discussion on "Our Healthcare in Juvenile Period" and a cultural function.