By Silvanus Lamin
50 youths from different regions of Bangladesh expressed solidarity with the climate struggle of the communities in the coast while participating in a 4-day workshop arranged by BARCIK in Satkhira and visiting different climate affected villages of the coast.
50 youths from Rajshahi, Netrakona, Manikganj, Satkhira and Dhaka visited 6 villages of 6 unions and Satkhira range in the 4-day youth climate workshop organized by BARCIK on 18- to 21 March 2023 at Shyamnagar, Satkhira, and experienced the adverse effects of climate change and local adaptation associated with the struggling lives of the coast.
The area of Sushmita Hajong, a girl from Lengura village in Kalmakanda, Netrakona, is affected by landslides every year. The crop land is destroyed due to the sands come from the upstream of India during the heavy rainfall. Besides, the community in that region also faces shortage of drinking water. The village of Irene Hembram, daughter of Mundumala, Tanore, Rajshahi, has a severe shortage of water due to the climate induced natural disaster drought. Crop land is lost every year due to lack of rain and drought. Faisal Hossain, a member of the ‘Char Climate Volunteer Team’ of Harirampur, Manikganj shared that the people in the char area faces river erosion and the trend is increasing day by day which poses risks to the life and livelihood of the communities.
Sushmita, Irene and Faisol participated in a 4-day practical youth climate workshop held in Shymanagar of Satkhira district. Each of the youths carries out climate and environmental awareness, social and cultural programs through youth organizations in their areas. Raisul Islam, a member of Shyamnagar’s ‘Sundarban Student Solidarity Team (SSST)’, took the youth from different areas to Chakbara village of Gabura. During the workshop BARCIK facilitated the youths to visit different places so that they could practically see the sufferings and woes of the communities due to climate induced disasters which included 6 villages of 6 Unions of Shyamnagar and Satkhira Forest Range, youth organizers of SSST and CEDIO etc. Visiting different places of Shymnagar areas the participants learned about climate crisis, conflict and survival strategies from coastal farmers, foresters, fishermen, Munda-Bagdi, development workers, teachers, local government, civil society and youth representatives. The youths coming from different areas said that climate change has adversely affected all areas and because of this the crisis is increasing in everyone’s life. Youth from different parts of the country have identified the climate crisis and the struggle of the coastal community to uphold their existence and get survived in the climate harsh environment. As part of the workshop, the youths organized a climate campaign which started from Munshiganj and ended at Kalagachia of Sunderbans demanding plastic and poison free Sunderbans. Carrying various banners and festoons which are written by hand on paper and cloth, the youth said that world heritage does not only save the country from disaster but also it contributes to sequester a huge amount of carbon. The Sunderban is also a large carbon sink in the world. They went on saying, protecting these forests from the effects of salinity, rising tides and climate induced disasters is essential for the survival of the planet. All youths of the country should come forward and take responsibility to save the Sunderans and environment of the country.
By visiting the villages of Katiakshi in Atulia, Kalmegha in Sadar, Mathurapur in Munshiganj, Chakbara in Gabura, Dhumghat in Ishoripur, shelter in Burigoalini, Kamalkathi village in Padmapukur, the youths came to know about the extinct fish, trees, birds and wildlife of area in the last 40 years. They also learned about the local knowledge based adaptation techniques of the communities and the changed disaster calendar. The youths also came to know about the increased frequency and intensity of climate induced disaster which have created negative impacts on natural, agricultural, health, food and water bodies. Additonally, the youths also came to know about the conflict arisen in the area due to climate change. The youths were encouraged and inspired seeing the coping strategies of the communities which help them to still uphold their existence in spite of the adversity. They presented their experiences at the closing ceremony of the workshop where freedom fighter Dr. Nirapod Bain, Shyamnagar Public Organization Coordinating Committee convener farmer Sirajul Islam, indigenous community leader Kaushalya Munda, Burigoalini Union Parishad panel chairman GM Abdur Rauf Gazi, President of the Coastal Press Club. Abdul Halim, BARCIK Executive Director Sukanta Sen, editor of barsicnews.com Silvanus Lamin, Urban Poverty Researcher Jahangir Alam, BARCIK Coastal Coordinator Ramakrishna Jowardar and BARCIK officials Bablu Jowardar and Rubina Parveen and other participated. Certificates were distributed among the participants at the end of the workshop followed by cultural program.
