By S.M. Osman Goni Shohag, from Shyamnagar, Satkhira
A youth-led disaster preparedness session and an awareness discussion were held at Atulia Sohrabia Dakhil Madrasa in Shyamnagar, Satkhira to observe the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2025.
The event, organized by Sundarban Students Solidarity Team with support from BARCIK, was chaired by Assistant Teacher Md. Mizanur Rahman. Local youth, students, public representatives, and members of volunteer organizations actively participated.
With the theme “Together for Action, Resilience for All,” the program aimed to build collective preparedness across all levels of society. Teachers from the madrasa, BARCIK youth organizer S.M. Osman Goni, and volunteers including Masud Rana attended in the event as special guests.
The discussants of the event said that in coastal regions, disasters have become a part of daily life. They mentioned the need for families, institutions, and local governments to remain aware and prepared collectively.
During the session, participants practiced essential safety measures for cyclones, tidal surges, fires, and earthquakes. They also learned about early warning signals, evacuation procedures, first aid, and rescue operations. The session was conducted by Md. Saidul Islam, Member Secretary of the Sundarban Students Solidarity Team (SSST). Youth participants displayed awareness posters on disaster preparedness.
Participating in the event Md. Zahid Hasan from SSST said, “Disaster prevention is not an individual task, it is a collective social responsibility.”
A BARCIK representative emphasized that through regular practices and training, young people can be engaged in leadership roles to build sustainable community-based disaster management systems. At the end of the event, participants pledged to raise disaster awareness within their families, schools, and communities.
Earlier that morning, a discussion meeting was held at Kamalkati in Padmapukur Union, organized by Dishari Disabled Youth Association with support from BARCIK. The meeting, presided over by local farmer Saraswati Rani, featured speeches from Bipul Mondal (President), Bikash Mondal (General Secretary), BARCIK Field Facilitator Barsha Gain, and Community Facilitator Sagarika Mistri.
Discussants mentioned that the coastal region repeatedly suffers from natural disasters, but losses can be minimized through early preparedness, mutual assistance, and community awareness.
Organizers stated that the event aimed to build an inclusive disaster management system ensuring the participation of local people, especially persons with disabilities and marginalized groups.
