A day-long Youth Led Char Summit held on Tuesday in flood-prone areas of Gaibandha district in Bangladesh called for increasing investment in youth development and leadership to address local challenges and build a more resilient future through climate adaptation.
The summit, organized by YouthNet Global, Gonoshasthaya Kendra (GUK) and Concern Worldwide Bangladesh, brought together young leaders to discuss critical issues and solutions for sustainable community development.
The summit featured a series of discussions focused on the challenges faced by the youth in char areas, such as river erosion, flooding, agricultural issues, and limited access to education and training. Attendees highlighted how these challenges hinder livelihoods and socio-economic growth in these vulnerable regions.
Sundarganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mohammad Nazir Hossain graced the event as the chief guest, stressing the importance of empowering the youth to lead development initiatives.
Among others were present Mohammad Shafikul Islam, GUK’s Flood Resilience Project Manager, Dr. Bipul Kumar De, Upazila Livestock Officer and Jafar Ahmed Laskar, Youth Development Officer. The speakers agreed on the urgency of investing in youth to strengthen local resilience and community development.
The summit focused on improving education, offering professional training, and promoting skills development programs to better equip young people to address challenges in agriculture, infrastructure, and disaster management. Youth representatives emphasized the need for a more focused approach to climate adaptation, environmental protection, and sustainable management of natural resources.
Moderated by YouthNet Global’s Rangpur Division Coordinator, Mohammad Maruf Miah, the discussions featured prominent youth leaders and Climate Resilience Action Group (CRAG) members, including Sheikh Abida Sultana, Jahangir Alam, Faizar Rahman and Jihad Hasan. They shared insights on how to tackle the issues faced by their communities, urging for collective action in addressing climate change.
The summit also highlighted the urgent need for amplified funding to bolster locally-led adaptation initiatives, particularly in char communities grappling with loss and damage. This was fervently advocated for by the youth leaders at the summit. They emphasized the critical importance of collaboration among development partners, governments, and civil society to confront the multifaceted challenges exacerbated by climate change.
The day concluded with the reading of the “Char Summit Declaration,” reaffirming the commitment of youth leaders from Gaibandha to collective action and resilience-building in char communities. The declaration underscored the imperative for united efforts to confront the compounding challenges posed by climate change and called for substantial investment in the char areas to enhance climate resilience.
The summit served as a platform for youth to express their readiness to take on leadership roles and contribute to national development. It was a call to action to recognize young people as key drivers of positive change, not only in their local communities but across the nation.
YouthNet Global’s Executive Coordinator, Sohanur Rahman, stressed the need for a balanced approach that integrates local, indigenous knowledge with modern technology to strengthen climate resilience. “We need to enhance investment in the char areas to build climate-resilient communities. Both the government and development partners must collaborate to mobilize resources and offer technical support,” Rahman said.
