Speakers from Indigenous communities linked traditional knowledge, cultural diversity and safe dialogue to climate resilience, as partners stressed collective hope amid worsening floods and climate impacts.
Indigenous leaders, development partners, diplomatic missions, civil society representatives and climate advocates met in Bangladesh for an invite-only gathering marking the International Day of Hope, with participants highlighting the growing impact of climate change on communities across the country.
The convening, titled One Nation, Many Identities, was organised by the SheRAA Secretariat and Bonhishikha – unlearn gender at a time when organisers said partners and members across Bangladesh needed “more hope than ever”.
Several partners joined the event from flood-ravaged areas to describe the severe and increasingly frequent challenges they face as a result of climate change.
The gathering was attended by Raja Devasish Roy, the King of the Chakma Circle, and Joris van Bommel, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Bangladesh.
Organisers said the event aimed to create space for dialogue at a time of crisis, when hope must be understood as more than optimism.
“In times of crises, hope is more than mere optimism. It is the courage to listen, to stand together, and to act,” they said. “It grows when communities whose voices have too often been overlooked are recognised as leaders, knowledge holders, and partners in shaping a more just and resilient future.”
Indigenous representatives from across Bangladesh shared stories reflecting the country’s diverse identities, cultures, languages and traditional knowledge systems. Participants discussed how those systems are essential to advancing climate justice and resilience.
Organisers expressed gratitude to the Embassy of the Netherlands in Bangladesh for its continued partnership and for supporting spaces for safe dialogue, saying such discussions were critical to sustaining partnerships that address climate change impacts in vulnerable countries such as Bangladesh.
They said collaborative platforms such as SheRAA were helping create spaces where dialogue builds understanding, partnerships inspire action and hope is “shared, strengthened, and transformed into meaningful change”.
“Hope is something that we MUST build on collectively, now more so than ever,” they said.
The programme was made possible with the support of Project Green Voices. Green Voices is implemented by The Asia Foundation, The Earth and Bonhishikha with support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh.
Youth Development for Sustainable Bangladesh – YDSB, YOUReach – Youth in Research and Action for Social Change, Eco-Network Global, Green Milieu and Supporting People and Rebuilding Communities were also associated with the programme.
