Due to geographic and socio-economic factors, people living in the country’s char areas remain behind compared to others. As these areas face particular risks from climate change, there is concern that this disparity may increase further in the future.
Therefore, there is no alternative to giving due priority to climate-resilient development of char areas in national policy planning. These views were expressed by participating media professionals at a workshop titled “Climate Change Resilience in Char Areas along the Jamuna River Basin,” organized by the National Char Alliance (NCA) today (Tuesday, 23 December 2025) at the Bishwo Sahitto Kendro building Dhaka.
With support from the JAMUNA Project, jointly implemented by the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society and the Swiss Red Cross, NCA organized the workshop. The context was presented by Md. Jasim Uddin Kabir, Project Director of the JAMUNA Project, and Abdullah Nadvi, Research Director of Unnayan Shamannay. The session was moderated by Zahid Rahman, Member Secretary of NCA.
Discussions at the workshop highlighted the disaster-response capacity of char dwellers, the successes and potential of climate-friendly development programs, the social service needs of citizens at special risk, and the overall economic potential of char areas. Participants shared their views on the necessary short- and long-term policy initiatives in these areas and the role of the media in implementing them.
Expert discussants included Mynul Hasan Sohel, General Secretary of the Dhaka Reporters Unity; Sanjib Bishwas Sanjoy, Deputy Country Representative of the Swiss Red Cross; Professor Rezaul Karim Siddique, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Safe Agro Food Effort Foundation; and Zahid Newaz Khan, Chief Executive Editor of Channel i.
