Call for special budget to protect coastal areas

Environmental activists and civil society leaders on Friday called on the government to ensure a dedicated allocation in the national budget for protecting Bangladesh's disaster-prone coastal regions from the growing impacts of climate change and environmental degradation.

The demand was raised during a human chain and rally held in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka, organised by the Dream Research and Development Foundation (DRDF) and the Sundarbans and Coastal Protection Movement.

Speakers at the programme warned that the country's coastal belt is increasingly vulnerable to cyclones, storm surges, floods, river erosion and land degradation, all of which are threatening ecosystems, agriculture, biodiversity and the livelihoods of millions of people.

Presiding over the event, Coordinator of the Sundarbans and Coastal Protection Movement Nikhil Chandra Bhadra said coastal communities are facing repeated natural disasters while rising salinity is worsening shortages of drinking water and food. He noted that these challenges are increasing unemployment and displacement, yet the proposed national budget has not given adequate importance to the issue despite public demands.

He urged the government, local administrations, civil society organisations and development partners to work together to protect coastal livelihoods and strengthen climate resilience.

Addressing the rally, DRDF President and Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University teacher and researcher Mir Mohammad Ali said the coastal crisis extends beyond natural disasters and has become a matter of national food security and economic stability.

He stressed the need to improve safety measures for fishermen by introducing boat registration systems, digital tracking, timely weather alerts, effective rescue operations and adequate support during fishing bans. He also called for a comprehensive national action plan and special budgetary allocation to protect marine fisheries and strengthen climate adaptation efforts.

Former General Secretary of the Communist Party of Bangladesh Ruhin Hossain Prince said that although various initiatives have been taken over the years for coastal development, the absence of long-term planning and the remoteness of many areas have left numerous communities underserved. He urged the authorities to take effective measures before the national budget is finalised.

The rally also presented a 21-point charter of demands, including declaring Bangladesh's coastal areas as climate and disaster risk zones, establishing environmentally friendly economic zones, constructing and repairing sustainable embankments, ensuring access to safe drinking water in remote coastal regions and upgrading cyclone shelters to better serve women, children, persons with disabilities and older people.

Participants further called for a nationwide social movement to eliminate illegal fishing nets and safeguard the country's fisheries resources under the slogan, “Stop Illegal Nets, Protect Fisheries Resources.”

Among others, Principal Akmal Hossain, former President of the Dhaka Reporters Unity Rafiqul Islam Azad, Udichi Shilpi Gosthi General Secretary Amit Ranjan Dey, Sachetan General Secretary Sakila Parvin, National Climate Action Forum representative Shakil Ahmed and Youth Climate Action Forum Convener Sadia Sultana Shapla addressed the gathering.