Civil society and environmental activists call on Bangladesh’s political parties to place climate change and environmental protection at the centre of election manifestos ahead of the national polls this year.
Civil society representatives and environmental activists have urged political parties to give strong priority to environmental protection and climate change in their election manifestos ahead of Bangladesh’s upcoming national parliamentary election.
They said long-term socio-economic development and citizens’ wellbeing depend on effective planning and implementation of environment-friendly and climate-resilient policies. To ensure sustainable benefits for present and future generations, they called for clear programmes, measurable targets and concrete commitments on environmental protection and climate action to be included in party manifestos.
The demand was raised at a civic dialogue jointly organised by Paribesh o Jalabayu Paribartan Andolon (PARIJA) and Dushtha Shasthya Kendra (DSK) at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity on Monday.
The dialogue was chaired by DSK President Professor Nur Mohammad Talukdar, while PARIJA General Secretary Ferdous Ahmed Ujjal moderated the session. A concept paper was presented by PARIJA President and former Additional Director General of the Department of Environment, Engineer Md Abdus Sobhan.
Speakers at the event included DSK Executive Director Dr Dibalok Singh, labour leader Aslam Khan, agriculturist Md Ahsan Karim Bhuiyan, development worker Sanjida Jahan Ashrafi, education movement leader Rustam Ali Khokon, Supreme Court lawyer Khalekunnahar Tania, representative of the urban poor Hosne Ara Begum Rafeza, environmental activist Mohammad Selim, engineer Anwar Hossain, youth climate activist Sohanur Rahman and journalist Riaz Hossain, among others.
Presenting the concept paper, Engineer Abdus Sobhan said voters increasingly assess election manifestos to compare which party’s plans are realistic and which promises will have a tangible impact on their lives. During election campaigns, he said, the manifesto becomes a party’s principal political message.
“An election manifesto is not merely a list of promises; it reflects a party’s long-term vision for the state and serves as a roadmap outlining strategies and steps to achieve specific goals,” he said, stressing that public demands, particularly on environmental protection and climate action, must be clearly reflected.
Dr Dibalok Singh highlighted the public health consequences of environmental mismanagement, noting that research indicates around 272,000 people die each year in Bangladesh due to inadequate water supply and sanitation systems. Bangladesh, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, cannot afford to ignore these challenges, he said.
“Our parliament must consistently adopt environment-friendly policies and laws. That is why election manifestos should clearly state environmental commitments along with specific targets and timelines,” he added.
In his closing remarks, Professor Nur Mohammad Talukdar criticised the dominance of business interests in parliament, arguing that many lawmakers come from sectors responsible for significant environmental degradation.
“Those who come to power often forget their promises. Therefore, party manifestos must contain clear and firm positions on environmental protection, and individuals or groups responsible for environmental destruction should be held accountable and socially rejected,” he said.
He also emphasised the need to formally send clear environmental policy recommendations to all political parties ahead of the election, urging them to treat environmental protection and climate change as core national priorities rather than peripheral issues.
Youth climate activist Sohanur Rahman told The Climate Watch that political parties must go beyond rhetoric and clearly commit to climate adaptation, a just transition and nature-based solutions, while placing young people at the centre of climate action.
“The climate crisis is no longer a future risk; it is a present reality for millions of people in Bangladesh,” Sohanur said. “Political parties must prioritise climate adaptation, ensure a just transition that protects livelihoods, safeguard nature and meaningfully engage youth as partners in climate decision-making, not merely as beneficiaries.”
