By Subir Kumar Sarkar from Ghior, Manikganj
On June 25, an exchange meeting on “Citizen Perspectives on Nature and Environmental Protection and the Formation of a Green Coalition” was organized by BARCIK at the Ganakendra Library hall room in Baniajuri Anand Bazar.
During the discussion, theater activist Gini Alam from Baniajuri Union emphasized the need for unity and coordinated efforts among environmental organizations and civil society groups working on environmental conservation. He proposed forming a Green Coalition in Ghior Upazila to prevent destructive activities and ensure the protection of all living beings in nature.
Retired teacher Md. Mojibur Rahman highlighted the urgent need to stop pollution of soil, water, and air. He stressed the importance of creating a habitable world for all living beings and called for local, national, and regional mass movements to establish climate justice.
Safia Begum, a reserved member of the Baniajuri Union Parishad, stated that ensuring safe food and food sovereignty should start at the family level. She urged people to make the best use of available land for food production. Similarly, Kamona Rani Sarkar, a reserved member of Nali Union Parishad, emphasized the collective responsibility of protecting the environment.
Lecturer Ashish Shikdar warned that human-made climate change has put both Bangladesh and the world in extreme peril. He insisted that all development must prioritize the protection of playgrounds, ponds, canals, open spaces, trees, rivers, birds, and natural reservoirs, along with preserving indigenous culture. Despite the ongoing destruction, he acknowledged the efforts of environmentally conscious individuals, students, and youth in urban and rural areas who are working collectively or individually to protect the environment.
The speakers strongly advocated for the formation of a Green Coalition in Ghior Upazila to promote environmental conservation, food sovereignty, and climate justice through coordinated civic action. As part of this initiative, an initial committee was announced, with Md. Mojibur Rahman as Convener and Kamona Rani Sarkar and Pradip Kumar Karkar as Joint Conveners.
In his welcome speech, BARCIK’s Regional Coordinator, Bimal Chandra Roy, underscored the importance of preserving natural ecosystems, agricultural landscapes, and biodiversity, as well as ensuring climate justice in today’s changing world. He pointed out that the unrestrained greed of a powerful section of society—whether individuals, institutions, or nations—has led to the severe degradation of forests, rivers, mountains, and biodiversity. He also noted that farmers are struggling to follow traditional seasonal crop calendars due to erratic weather conditions such as floods, droughts, fog, and river erosion, further pushing rural environments toward crisis.
The formation of the Green Coalition in Ghior marks a crucial step toward protecting nature, ensuring food sovereignty, and promoting climate justice through collective citizen action.