Vulnerability and risk mapping in Bangladesh

Title of the meeting: "Let's protect the river Brahmaputra and build healthy life'’

On 6th January, 2017 a discussion meeting was jointly organized by BAPA, BPI, Voice of Old

Brahmaputra, Nirapad Development Foundation (NDF) and Rangdonur Rong, a local NGO held at Chor

Godindapur, Ishhordi, Mymensingh district.

What purpose did this particular meeting serve?

Mymensingh district stands just beside the old Brahmaputra river. It

curves southeast to join the Meghna River near Dhaka.This meeting

was held to make discussion on the strategies, responsibilities and

commitment to protect the Brahmaputra river with the villagers who

live by the riverbank. The river Brahmaputra is one of the most

prominent sources of agriculture,

fishing and life and livelihood.

However, the river is going to stop its natural flow due to continuous

grabbing and pollution. Sand is been thrown into the river, which is

transferring the river into a canal. If action is not taken against this

heinous act, the livelihood of the locals would be in danger. The main

purpose of this meeting was to create awareness among the local

people living by the riverbank areas so that they take proactive

initiatives to save the Brahmaputra river.

This meeting was organized in association with the BAPA, BPI, Voice of Old Brahmaputra, Nirapad

Development Foundation (NDF) and a local NGO, Rangdonur Rong.

How many people attended?

The meeting was attended by a total of 35 villagers, 10 volunteers and 3 community leaders. Of which,

13 were women and rest 35 were men.

Expected outcomes of the meeting:

a) The villagers agreed to help and showed willingness to save the Brahamputra river form

pollution, grabbing and filling.

b) The villagers shared their perspective and were against the idea of urbanization in their area

c) They showed positive mentality and consented to attend a series of meetings designed to

discuss the same issue in the future.

d) Ensure active participation from woman community.

Village meeting at Jailkhanar Chor,Mymensingh

Major themes of discussion:

The major theme of the discussion was to protect the Brahmaputra river that build healthy lives. In

the meeting, opportunities to maintain community

relationship with the rivers and villagers are discussed

briefly. The meeting was held to identify the core

problems of Brahmaputra river due to continuous grabbing

and pollution. In the meeting a brief discussion on various

topics were made to protect as well as to improve the

Brahmaputra river. The meeting focused on raising

consciousness among villagers for their assistance support

and participation. Brief discussion was made on the

recurrence of hostile environmental incidents: flood,

erosion, failure of monsoon and activities that communities could initiate to adapt impacts of

climate change, especially evolving women.

Action items/consensus points that emerged from the meeting:

a) Mobilizing villagers to protect the river from pollution and illegal grabbing.

b) Convening stakeholder meetings and consultations.

c) Taking preventative measures such as dredging to save the natural flow of Brahmaputra.

d) Secure the river navigability.

e) Despite Brahmaputra and Teesta waterway combines a few thousand hectares of floodplain

every year, demolishing homes and infrastructures, and leaving individuals landless and

destitute. So government assistance is an unquestionable requirement to enhance their

condition.

Main points of contention between stakeholders :

There was no contention occurred between the stakeholders rather they were being so cooperative.

Many showed their willingness to help.

Is this one in a series of meetings designed to discuss the same or similar issues?

Yes, the meeting was a part of series of discussion on the same topic in near future.

Emerging relationships over the series:

Cooperation between these stakeholders are thus highly appreciated during the formal meeting. At this

point, great responses were observed from the stakeholders as they would discuss with the social

representatives and share the experience of the meeting. It will help them to decide on what their

future courses of action.

Participant details:

For non-community representative participants:

Name Organization Designation Gender Authority Scale of

operation

Sharif Jamil BPI & BAPA Executive

Director &

Joint

Secretary

Male Executive National

Ibnul Syed

Rana

NDF Chairman Male NGO Management

Abdul Karim

Kim

Sumra River

Waterkeeper

Sumra River

Waterkeeper

Male Executive National

Runa Rahman NDF Member Female Executive National

Hantama

Sultana

NDF Member Female Executive District

For community representatives:

Name Community/

tribe

Gender Locality/

village/city

State/ Province

Shobuj Mia Community Male Jailkhanar Chor Mymensingh

Hatem Rana Community Male Jailkhanar Chor Mymensingh

Sumon Mia Community Male Jailkhanar Chor , Mymensingh

Shabuddin Shek Community Male Jailkhanar Chor Mymensingh

Shohan Community Male Jailkhanar Chor , Mymensingh

Lubna Akhter Community Female Jailkhanar Chor Mymensingh

Farzana Mitu Community Female Jailkhanar Chor Mymensingh

Zabunisa

Hossain

Community Female Jailkhanar Chor Mymensingh

Mohaiminul

Jannat Romel

Community Male Jailkhanar Chor Mymensingh

Shahida Sony Community Female Jailkhanar Chor Mymensingh

Meherunnisa

Tithi

Community Female Jailkhanar Chor Mymensingh

Abdul Hafif Community Male Jailkhanar Chor Mymensingh

Photos:

Present Scenario of Brahmaputra river, goes dry during winter. Pictures taken on 6th January, 2017

Title of the meeting: ‘Meeting and Campaign for Protecting the Navigability of river Jamuna and

Louhajang, and saving it from the Pollution and Grabbing’

On 27th January, 2017 this meeting was held at Bamunhata, post office, Bhuapur district, Tangail

jointly organized by the Blue Planet Initiatives (BPI), International Rivers. Other collaborating

organizations were Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), Nirapad Development Foundation (NDF)

and a local NGO, Solidarity.

What purpose did this particular meeting serve?

This meeting was held to make discussion on the strategies,

responsibilities and commitment to protect the Jamuna and

Louhajang river with the villagers, who live by the riverbank.

As one of the three main rivers of Bangladesh, Jamuna, flows

from India to Bangladesh and it is the main distributary

channel of the Brahmaputra River. The river is about to lose

its navigability. Then again, continuous grabbing and pollution

possesses a serious threat to the livelihood of the locals. The

fundamental reason for this meeting was to make mindfulness

among the neighbourhood individuals living by the riverbank

zones with the goal that they take proactive activities to save the

Jamuna and Louhajang river. Now a relatively simple solution is

being tried to protect millions who live near the river.This meeting was organized jointly by the Blue

Planet Initiatives (BPI), International Rivers. Other collaborating organizations were Bangladesh

Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), Nirapad Development Foundation (NDF) and a local NGO, Solidarity.

How many people attended?

More than 50 people were present during the campaign, with around half of them being women. Some

of the local communities took part in the meeting as well.

Expected outcomes of the meeting:

a) The local people got the opportunity to discuss about the river. Through the discussion

meeting, local people showed their willingness and wish to participate in activities to shield the

waterway from pollution and grabbing.

b) They demonstrated their enthusiasm for raising the awareness among others by assuring their

regular participation.

The river goes dry, children playing and walking cross the dry bed of Louhajang, branch came out from Jamuna river

Major themes of discussion:

The major theme of the discussion was to recognize the core issues of Jamuna and Louhajang river

because of nonstop grabbing and contamination. In the meeting, a short dialog on different subjects

was made to secure and in addition to enhance the river navigability.

The meeting concentrated on raising awareness among villagers for

their help support and collaboration. The brief discussion was made

on the recurrence of hostile environmental incidents: flood, erosion,

failure of monsoon and activities that communities could initiate to

adapt impacts of climate change, especially evolving women. BPI

representative, Mr. Abdul Karim Kim discussed about the

responsibilities and conceivable measures to secure the rivers. Ibnul

Syed Rana also took part in the discussion on behalf of Voice of the Old Brahmaputra.

Action items/consensus points that emerged from the meeting:

a) If the river lost its natural flow and sufficient amount of water crops cannot be grown properly

and would endanger the live and livelihood of the people.

b) Secure the river from pollution and grabbing.

c) Need to protect the navigability to keep the river alive.

d) High time to take immediate action by the government.

e) Active participation of woman participants was brought out in the meeting.

Main points of contention between stakeholders:

There was no contention occurred between the stakeholders rather they were being so cooperative.

Many showed their willingness to help.

Is this one in a series of meetings designed to discuss the same or similar issues?

Yes, the meeting was a part of series of discussion on the same topic in near future.

Emerging relationships over the series:

Cooperation between these stake holders is thus highly appreciated during the formal meeting. At this

point, great responses were observed from the stakeholders as they friendly discussed with the

representatives, share their experience, and decide on what their future courses of action.

Participant details:

For non-community representative participants:

Name Organization Designation Gender Scale of operation

Mukaddes Ali Sarker Social Activist Activist Male National

Hantama Sultana

Hena

Women Leader

Activist Female District

Hatem Rana Nirapad Development Program Male National

Foundation assistant

Abdul Karim KIM Blue Planet Initiative (BPI) Executive

Member

Male National

Ibnul Syed Voice of The Old

Brahmaputra River

Keeper.

Coordinator Male National

For community representatives:

Name Community/

tribe

Gender Locality/

village/city

State/ Province

Khandker Abdul Hamid Community Male Bamun Hata Tangail

Khayrul Islam Community Male Bamun Hata Tangail

Buty Community Female Bamun Hata Tangail

Asad Rahman Community Male Bamun Hata Tangail

Abdur Rashid Community Male Bamun Hata Tangail

Sadekul Islam Community Male Bamun Hata Tangail

Sufia khatun Community Female Bamun Hata Tangail

Bashir uddin Community Male Bamun Hata Tangail

Aysa akhter Community Female Bamun Hata Tangail

Rafiqul Islam Community Male Bamun Hata Tangail

Kadir Mia Community Male Bamun Hata Tangail

Ramjan ali Community Male Bamun Hata Tangail

Fulki Begum Community Female Bamun Hata Tangail

Munju Ara Community Female Bamun Hata Tangail

Hasina Community Female Bamun Hata Tangail

Rashid Community Male Bamun Hata Tangail

Kalam Community Male Bamun Hata Tangail

Akkas ali Community Male Bamun Hata Tangail

Latif Community Male Bamun Hata Tangail