The World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry has selected Dr. Shahriar Hossain of Dhaka to be its Executive Vice President. Dr. Hossain is a renowned NGO leader, ecologist and environmental journalist in Asia, working for environmental justice and governance more than two decades.He will stay in Dhaka and continue his leadership roles with Environment & Social Development Organization (ESDO) and the Asian Center for Environmental Health, both NGOs he helped found in 1990 and 2013 respectively. Charlie Brown, president of the World Alliance, said, “There is no better NGO leader in the world.  It will be an honor to work aside Shahriar as our new Executive Vice President, as we work to implement the Minamata Convention on Mercury.” Dr. Hossain said: “In this role I intend to accelerate the movement to mercury-free dentistry, especially across Asia and Africa, and in Latin America as well.  This role will provide more exposure for Bangladesh as a leader in the fight against mercury and other toxins in our environment.”
With its Secretariat in Washington, the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry has a worldwide network with 9 regional vice presidents and NGO representatives in 40 nations.  Led by professionals in dentistry, medicine, ecology, engineering, journalism, and law, it works in partnership with the UN Environmental Programme and governments to implement the transition to mercury-free, amalgam-free dentistry.  In Bangladesh, for example, the World Alliance has hosted a national stakeholder conference in Dhaka (2012), a health professionals summit in Chittagong (2014), and a South Asian regional NGO summit in Dhaka (2014).