Inception Workshop
On
Adaptation Challenges of Climate Change-linked Migrants in Bangladesh and Locally -led Solutions
Organised by Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU)
Date: 21st January 2025
Venue: The Peninsula Chittagong
86/B, CDA Avenue, O.R. Nizam Road, Bulbul Center, Chattogram- 4100
On the 21st of January RMMRU organized an Inception Workshop in Chattogram, a major port city and a significant destination for the internal migrants as well as displaced people of Bangladesh. The venue of the inception workshop was the Peninsula Chittagong which is very well equipped and spacious enough for the programme. The event was supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) which is Switzerland’s international cooperation agency within the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). Mr. Noman Hossain, Deputy Director, Deputy Secretary, Local Government Division of Bangladesh, graced the workshop as a Special Guest. 25 Researchers, teachers, representatives from different Civil Society Organisations, NGOs, INGOs, development partners, and government officials participated in the programme. The core objectives of the workshop were to identify the migrants’ dwelling areas and the challenges of the migrants in the destination area.
The workshop was moderated by the researchers of RMMRU. At the beginning, Mr. Mahmudol Hasan Rocky, Senior Research Fellow, RMMRU shared his presentation overview of the study and literature review of the research. Then Mr. Rashed Alam Bhuiyan, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Dhaka gave his presentation on RMMRU and its 30 years’ prestigious journey in evidence-based research. After that the researchers, development partners, government officials, and other stakeholders shared their practical experience and perspectives on the current migration scenario, the migrant hotspots in Chattogram, their adaptation challenges, perspectives of the local people and administration towards the migrants, etc. After that,t the Special Guest from the LGD addressed the questions aroused in the workshop as well as sharing his expert knowledge and professional experience in this regard. At the end, Mr. Mahmudol Hasan Rocky, Senior Research Fellow conclude the session with a vote of thanks.
Dialogue among CSOs, NGOs, and Government Disaster Management Committees at the District level
Organised by Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU)
with the support of the Platform on Disaster Displacement (PDD) and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD)
in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD)
Date: 08 January, 2025
Place: Conference Room (DC Office)
On January 8, 2025, a dialogue among Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and Government Disaster Management Committees at the district level was held in the conference room of the Deputy Commissioner's (DC) Office in Satkhira. Mr. Mustak Ahmed, Deputy Commissioner of Satkhira, attended the event as the chief guest, while Dr. Tasneem Siddiqui, Professor of Political Science at the University of Dhaka and Founding Chair of the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU), participated as the special guest. Mr. Shimonuzzaman, the former project manager, hosted the event.
A total of 60 participants attended the dialogue, including 25 members of the District Disaster Management Committee. Additionally, government officials, leaders of local NGOs, the principal of the Technical Training Centre (TTC), prominent civil society representatives, and journalists were present.
The program was structured into four segments. The first session featured participant introductions, followed by a brief presentation on RMMRU and its project activities, delivered by Dr. Tasneem Siddiqui. The third segment comprised an open discussion, moderated by Dr. Siddiqui, while the event concluded with a closing speech by the Deputy Commissioner.
The dialogue focused on the escalating challenges in the Satkhira district related to combating the effects of climate change. Discussions were framed around the National Strategy on Internal Displacement Management (2021), emphasizing the necessary steps to achieve its objectives, the roles of relevant government stakeholders, and strategies for effectively implementing this national initiative at the grassroots level.
Following the dialogue, a special award ceremony was held to recognize the winners of the drawing and essay competitions. A total of 12 winners from the drawing competition and 9 winners from the essay competition received awards. The Deputy Commissioner of Satkhira presented the awards to the recipients. Initially, after the selection process, 9 drawings and 12 essays were selected as winners. Three drawings each have been selected in three categories of class- Three, Four, and Five. The judge of the final selection of drawings was Mr. Jamal Ahmed, a prominent artist of the country. Three essays each have been selected in four categories of class- Six, Seven, Eight, and Nine. The judge of the final selection of essays was Dr. C R Abrar, Executive Director of RMMRU.
At the event, students joyfully shared their experiences. They found it to be a great opportunity for their future success. The Head Teacher of Patakhali Primary School expressed his heartfelt gratitude, stating that opportunities like this are truly significant for students. He emphasized that such experiences would inspire students to engage in more productive activities in the future.
Insights from the Dialogue Event:
Challenges
- Not Update the work of the district disaster management committee regularly;
- Unawareness of the common people of the existing national policies and projects for the climate affected people;
- Implementation of the National Strategy on Internal Displacement Management (2021) at the grassroots level remains inadequate.
- A lack of effective collaboration between government agencies, NGOs, and civil society organizations, leading to overlapping initiatives and resource mismanagement.
- Local disaster management committees lack the financial and logistical support needed to implement climate adaptation and displacement management programs effectively.
- A significant portion of the local population remains unaware of climate adaptation measures and government assistance programs.
Recommendations:
- The government should decentralize decision-making and allocate dedicated resources to local disaster management committees to implement the national strategy effectively.
- Establish a joint coordination platform involving government agencies, NGOs, and CSOs to ensure a unified disaster response and avoid duplication of efforts.
- Conduct regular awareness campaigns, training, and simulation exercises to prepare communities for climate-induced disasters.
- Upgrade coastal protection measures, such as embankments and flood barriers, and ensure the construction of gender-inclusive climate-resilient shelters.
- Introduce vocational training, microfinance initiatives, and job placement programs to help displaced individuals find sustainable income sources.
