By Poli Rani, from Rajshahi
A training workshop titled ‘Green Movement for Youth Green Leaders’ was held in Rajshahi recently to strengthen young people’s leadership and active participation in environmental and biodiversity conservation.
The workshop was jointly organized by the Green Coalition, Barendra Youth Forum and BARCIK at BARCIK’s Rajshahi Regional Resource Centre.
Held under the theme ‘Green Youth, Green Leadership-United for Nature, Committed to a Sustainable Future’, the event brought together around 40 young environmental activists from the Barind region, representing more than 20 organizations.
The key speakers were Md Shahidul Islam, an anthropologist and regional coordinator of BARCIK in the Barind region, and Mahbub Siddiqui, a prominent river and environmental researcher.
In their discussions, the speakers highlighted the role of youth in protecting the environment and biodiversity, conserving rivers, wetlands and forests, addressing climate change and drought in the Barind region, promoting environment-friendly agriculture, preventing pollution and safeguarding local natural resources.
They also discussed ways to identify local environmental challenges, raise public awareness, engage communities and strengthen youth leadership in environmental movements. Other key topics included developing organizational skills, preparing action plans to address local environmental problems and strengthening youth-led advocacy initiatives.
Among the participants include Md Atikur Rahman Atik, president of Barendra Youth Forum; Poli Rani, its general secretary; Rubel Hossain Mintu, founding president; and Alomgir Hossain and Samrat Raihan, members of the forum’s higher council, along with representatives of various organizations.
Participants exchanged views on taking collective action to address local environmental challenges, developing leadership and organizational capacities among young people, and ensuring their effective involvement in environmental protection.
At the end of the workshop, Mahbub Siddiqui, a renowned river researcher and president of the Green Coalition in the Barind region, was honoured for receiving the ‘Mark Angelo River Award 2026’ in recognition of his outstanding contributions to river research and leadership in the environmental movement.