By S.M Osman Goni and Gazi Mahida Mizan from Satkhira
A march demanding climate justice was held in Satkhira recently calling for the formation of a specialized coastal development board to protect the region from the impacts of climate change.
The march was jointly organized by the Green Coalition, BARCIK, and the Education, Culture and Diversity Protection Team. It began from Shaheed Abdur Razzak Park in Satkhira town and, after parading through the main streets, concluded at the same spot.
At the post-march rally, speakers said that the long-term crises faced by coastal communities, including increasing salinity, loss of livelihoods, risks of cyclones and tidal surges, and severe shortages of freshwater. They stated that although the coastal region is considered the most climate-vulnerable area of the country, there is still no specialized institution dedicated to its development and protection.
The speakers emphasized that forming a Coastal Development Board is now an urgent necessity to ensure coastal protection, planned development, and rehabilitation of climate-affected people.
They also demanded fair compensation and proper rehabilitation for climate-affected coastal communities, an increase in international climate funds, effective measures to prevent salinity in Satkhira and other coastal areas, freshwater conservation, enhanced support for sustainable agriculture, special allocations for fishermen’s safety and livelihood protection, construction of disaster-resilient infrastructure, and the formulation of sustainable, locally driven climate action plans ensuring the participation of youth, women, and marginalized communities. The program was chaired by Azad Hossain Belal, Convener of the Satkhira District Citizens’ Committee and Advisor to the Satkhira District Green Coalition.
Among the speakers included former General Secretary of the District Anti-Corruption Committee Mozammel Hossain, senior journalist Kalyan Banerjee, Joint Member Secretary of the District Citizens’ Committee Ali Noor Khan Babul, environmental activist Madhab Chandra Dutta, Joint General Secretaries of the Green Coalition M. Belal Hossain and Biplob Hossain, and President of the Education, Culture and Diversity Protection Team Abdur Rahman Nirab, among others.
