Tohura Khatun Lili, from Rajshahi

A three-day workshop on Urban Climate Resilience, Poverty Alleviation, and Social Justice was held in Rajshahi. The event took place from February 17-19 at the BARCIK Rajshahi Resource Center in the Padma Residential Area. Participants included members from urban projects in Rajshahi, Satkhira, and Dhaka.

Special guests at the workshop included Khorshed Alam, Convener of the Urban Poor Rights Implementation Committee, and Nilufa Yasmin, Member Secretary. The workshop was conducted by Pavel Partha, writer and researcher at BARCIK, along with Project Coordinator Jahangir Alam.

On the first day, the inaugural session was presided over by Md. Shahidul Islam, Regional Coordinator of BARCIK. The workshop began with the national anthem and patriotic songs. Following that, project team members from Rajshahi, Satkhira, and Dhaka presented their progress and achievements.

Project Coordinator Jahangir Alam gave a detailed presentation on urbanization and the impacts of climate change. He highlighted that since 2008, more than half of the world’s population has been living in urban areas, and by 2050, two-thirds of the global population is expected to reside in cities. He also pointed out that one in three people in the Global South lives in urban slums, and Dhaka alone sees an influx of 2,000 new residents daily, exacerbating urban crises.

He further explained that climate change is intensifying issues in urban areas, including heavy rainfall, floods, rising sea levels, lack of clean water, food shortages, and air pollution. The urban poor are the most vulnerable to these challenges.

On the second day, participants reviewed the previous day’s activities and formulated plans under the Urban Resilience Project for the three regions: Dhaka, Rajshahi, and Satkhira. Later in the day, participants visited Namobhadra Slum in Rajshahi, where team members from Dhaka and Satkhira observed the living conditions of the residents.

On the last day, discussions focused on strategies for implementing the planned actions. Additionally, participants visited the 450-year-old stone-built Kusumba Mosque and the Agricultural Library in Rajshahi, both of which hold historical significance.