Due to rapid urbanization, annual brick production in Bangladesh is 22.71 billion [ADB, 2016]. Moreover, according to World Bank Report [2011], 95% of our brick kilns are employing outdated technologies causing environmental degradation. Now-a-days, Alternative Building Materials are in demand for extensive use in Bangladesh as agricultural top soil [2840 cft per year] is being used largely in making traditional brick which is a threat to our food security. 

Keeping this consciousness in mind, 35 students from AIUB, Department of Architecture participated in a day long Student Awareness Program on ‘Sustainable Building: Design and Material’- Promoting Sustainable Building in Bangladesh at HBRI Conference Room on 23^rd March, 2017. Housing and Building Research Institute (HBRI) along with Oxfam Bangladesh, Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) and Jagorani Chakra Foundation (JCF) organized the event. The prime objective of this event was to encourage the students of Architecture to learn about dissemination and adaptation of sustainable construction practices and materials.

The 1^st segment of the event commenced with the presentation delivered by Md Akhter Hossain Sarkar, SRO and Course Coordinator HBRI, followed by Mohammad Simon Rahman, Sr. Program Officer OXFAM, Dabaraj Dey, Research Associate, BELA who described the importance, techniques and challenges in implementing the use of Alternative Building Materials in Bangladesh. Afterward, the participants visited the workshop, also experienced a number of projects constructed by various types of Alternative Building Materials inside HBRI complex. The program concluded with an interactive and spontaneous question-answer session participated by the students and the speakers and certificate-giving event among the participants. This event was co-ordinated by Assistant Professor Syeda Tuhin Ara Karim. Architecture Department is thankful for the support provided by AIUB on this occasion.