Kurigram human chain demands environmental protection

A human chain was held in Kurigram demanding environmental protection and climate justice. The program was held in front of the Kurigram Press Club on Saturday (August 22) at 10:30 am.

The program was organized under the Community Action for Climate Justice and Networking Project at the initiative of the non-governmental development organization Nari-Associate for Revival and Initiative (NARI), with financial support from the Climate Justice Resilience Fund (CJRF) and technical assistance from Sampriti Aid Foundation.

The speakers included Farida Yasmin, Executive Director of NARI; M. Rashid Ali, Chairman of Green Village Foundation and Convener of the District Climate Network; Rabiul Islam, Project Coordinator; Kartik Chandra Barman, Coordinator of AFAD; Anwar Hossain, environmentalist and tree lover; Jahangir Alam Rana, Secretary of Ulipur Upazila Climate Council; and Md. Shoaib Ali, among others.

The speakers at the human chain said that due to climate change, the risks of river erosion, floods, droughts and other natural disasters in Kurigram are increasing day by day. However, the marginalized population, which is least responsible for climate change, is having to bear the most damage.

Therefore, effective steps must be taken to ensure the rights of affected people, protect the environment and establish climate justice.

The speakers demanded adequate adaptation support for climate-vulnerable populations, participation of local people in environmental conservation, and stronger government-private joint initiatives to combat climate change.

At the time, people from various classes and professions, including representatives of Kurigram CSO Hub, Chilmari, Ulipur and Kurigram Sadar upazilas, Women in Climate Action Network (WCAN), District Climate Network-Kurigram, Ulipur Climate Council, and Gender in Humanitarian Action (JIHA)-Kurigram Chapter, were present.

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It is to be noted that the women’s organization has been conducting various development activities in different upazilas of Kurigram district since 2006, including women’s empowerment, environmental protection, climate change and adaptation, disaster management, emergency humanitarian assistance, and women’s employment.