With the pressure from different organizations and climate-change victims, more than 80 countries embarked on the decision to phase out coal power at the last COP-27 conference last year. Despite the frequent attempts by the UN and other international organizations to decelerate and lessen the dependency on fossil fuel, powerful states were not happy in order to protect their economic and trading interest. Besides, those countries formulated politics to bottleneck the implementation of climate change-related policies and, especially, the policies related to the fossil-fuel phase-out.

In addition to that, Countries of the global north are not hesitating to increase subsidies and state support to beef up the non-renewable energy sources. G-7 countries spent a massive extent that resulted in a whopping amount – 1. 4 trillion dollars in only 2022 which is as twice much as it was during pre-COVID time. A similar trend is evident in the G-20 countries as they claim the lion’s share of the global economy and pollution. These decisions and the non-renewable energy ambitions of the global north are contributing to the mass denial of climate change.

Among the climate-change-responsible countries, the declaration of a new gas field by the US and UK, the aggressive campaign of Japan to claim a superior position in the LNG market of Asia, the expansion of marine fleet by China and Korea, the policy of Indonesia and India to seek economic prosperity by resorting on fossil-fuel dependent energy mix and many other ongoing phenomena are proving their indifference of affluent countries to that they say in the conferences.

Despite the verbose and ambitious speech made on different global platforms, the powerful countries are meaning to make the climate change issue another field of practicing their long-held hegemonic superiority. It is evident that the powerful countries are considering climate change as a security issue merely like other security issues to extend their leadership interest in global climate change politics and global platforms that are created to tackle climate change.

Against this backdrop, we are aiming to show to target institutions, media, and the general public that the fight against fossil fuels has broadened and heightened, to popularize and amplify concrete demands to end fossil fuels, and to complement the push for a more aggressive anti-fossil gas narrative.

Taking consideration of the above, on September 15, 2023, Waterkeepers Bangladesh demonstrated the Global Day of Action covering the climate hotspots of the country in 26 locations including Dhaka. The areas where demonstrations have taken place are described below.

1. Dhaka:

Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Brotee, Equity BD, Youth Net for Climate Justice, Center for Participatory Research and Development, Global Law Thinkers Society, Bangladesh Krishok Federation, Sundarban o Upakul Surokkha Andolon, Nirapod Development Foundation, Sompritee o Souhardo, Sodesh Mrittika Manob Unnayon Songstha and Bangladesh Cycle Lane Bastobayon Parishad collectively organized a cycle rally, human chain, mime show and dance to sensitize the community people and policymakers the urgency of climate change issue. The program kicked off at 10:00 am and went on until 11:30 am on 15th September, Friday. Around 100 cyclists took part and some other 150 participants made the human chain. The speakers demanded equitable, justified, and quick phase-out of fossil fuel to implement practical and required policies in order to meet the expected standard to keep the temperature within a safe extent, to urge world leaders not to make any ambiguous decisions and some other issues.

News Link – The Daily Star, Green Watch BD, Kaler Kantho, Delta Times, Ekushey Sangbad, Protidiner Sangbad

2. Mongla (Bagerhat):

Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Pashur River Waterkeeper, BAPA, and Brotee organized a protest in Mongla in waist-deep water to show the sea level rise. Around 150 people attended the protest. The speakers demanded a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, ­to make policy to produce clean energy, to subsidize environment-friendly energy, and some other demands.

News Link – Daily Inqilab, Youtube

3. Pekua (Cox’s Bazar):

Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Brotee, and Save River Save Life Organized a human chain and cycle rally at Bholakhal, Pekua in Cox’s Bazar. Speakers call upon proper policy from the Global North. The issue of renewable energy was a burning question among the speakers. As more than 500 individuals came out to the street to join us.

News Link – Daily Messanger

4. Panchagarh:

Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Brotee, and Panchagarh Theatre organized a human chain on 15^th September in front of the Shahid Minar beside the Dhaka-Panchagarh Highway. The activist expressed their concern over the carbon dioxide from the brick kilns, industries, and transportation that are causing huge damage to human lives. They demanded the use of clean energy and stop the use of fossil fuels. Around 100 individuals participated in the program.

News Link -   Prothom Desh, Bhorer Kagoj

5. Bogra:

Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Brotee, Shopno, and Mathura Shomaj Kollan Porishod collectively organized a human chain, discussion session, Round-table meeting, and long march. The program started at 10:30 am in the morning. Around 110 participants took part in the program.

News Link - Joy Jugantor

6. Bishwanath

Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Poshur River Waterkeeper, and Bachao Basia Nadi Oikko Parishad organized a Rickshaw Rally that went through the main streets of the city. The rickshaw rally started at 3:00 pm at Basia Bridge. They demanded proper action to lessen carbon dioxide emissions. Nearly 120 people came to the street to join the program.

7. Netrokona:

Human chain and beetle nut saplings were distributed among the people to join the worldwide “Global Day of Action to End Fossil Fuels for Climate Justice” program. Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Brotee, and some other local organizations organized the program together to express their demand to the global leader regarding the issues they are facing, e.g., global warming, irregular weather patterns, and other local environmental issues. A group of approximately 100 individuals participated in the program.

8. Barishal:

Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Brotee, and some BAPA, BELA, and Alliance for Youth Development organized a human chain at 10:00 am in front of the Assini Cinema Hall. Around 180 activists joined the human chain. Activists discussed the negative impact of the luxury of the rich people living in industrialized countries. Likewise, they talked about the responsibility that must be taken by none but polluters.

9. Patharghata:

On 15^th September at 10:30 am, Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Brotee, and Upokul Surokkha Andolon (Coastal Protection Movement) organized a human chain in front of the Sheikh Rassel Square. Around 150 people attended the program to express their concern over the fossil fuel. The speakers expressed their concern over the logging of the woods of the Patharghata forest. They demanded proper action to prevent deforestation.

News Link -  Prothom Surjadoy , JaiJai Din

10. Jamalpur:

Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Brotee, Riverkeeper Movement, Nirapod Development Foundation, Social Development Organization, Agradutshomaj Unnayon Songstha, National Development Songstha, and Prottasha Mohila Kollan Songstha jointly organized a human chain and Cycle Rally at 4:00 pm. They echoed our collective demand to end the use of fossil fuels and to restore the ecology. People coming from the agricultural context were especially concerned about their crop production and irregular weather. Around 100 people joined the human chain from all walks of life.

News Link – Aparadh Damon

11. Taltoli:

Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Brotee, Tetulbariya Jele Samiti, Shubh Sandhya Surokkha committee, and Payra Nodi Raksha Committee collectively organized a human chain, Art competition, and Boat Rally. The program started at 10:00 am in the morning. Approximately 300 people were part of the program. They echoed our collective demand to phase out fossil fuel as well as they also demanded just and equitable management of water bodies.

12. Moheskhali:

Water Keepers Bangladesh, Kohelia River Protection Committee, and Pran-prokrity Surokkha Parishad organized a rally and human rights demonstration held in Maheshkhali, Cox's Bazar, to demand justice for clean air, free from the burning of corpses. At 3 PM, the rally and human rights event took place in the well-known Chaliyachhara Bazar near the entrance gate of Maheshkhali. Around 250 participants attended the program.

News Link – Daily Agamir Songbad

13. Khulna:

As part of the "Global Day of Action and Fossil Fuels for Climate Justice" initiative, people came out to participate in a bicycle rally and gathering in Khulna city. The event was organized at the Royal Mor intersection in the city. Water Keepers Bangladesh, Brotee, Sundarbans and Coastal Protection Movement, Coastal Voice of Bangladesh (COVB), and Khulna Cyclists collectively conduct this initiative. They demanded special protection in policymaking for the climate change-vulnerable places. Nearly, 150 participants took part in the program to support the initiative to end fossil fuel.

News Link – Shomoyer Alo

14. Paikgacha:

Leaders of the environmental movement and representatives of civil society have called for a swift transition to sustainable energy sources to combat climate change. They emphasized that the use of gas and LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) is not a solution to the climate and energy crisis, and instead, green and renewable energy sources are the future. Therefore, there is a need to phase out investments in gas and LNG. Alongside this, they emphasized the need to increase the use of clean and renewable energy sources while also discontinuing the use of coal and biomass for combustion. As part of the "Global Day of Action and Fossil Fuels for Climate Justice" initiative, a football match and a bicycle rally were held, culminating in a human rights gathering at the Kapilmuni Smriti Soudha in Paikgacha Upazila, Khulna. Water Keepers Bangladesh, Brotee, Sundarbans and Coastal Protection Movement, and other conscientious organizations inaugurated the initiative. 250 people participated in the program.

News Link – Amar Barta, Bhorer Kagoj

15. Sathkhira:

On September 15th, as part of the worldwide "Global Day of Action and Fossil Fuels for Climate Justice" initiative, a cleanliness campaign, tree plantation, environmental awareness campaign, and a citizens' gathering took place in Pransayar Khalpar, Radhanagar, Satkhira city at 10 AM. Water Keepers Bangladesh, Brotee, Sundarbans, and Coastal Protection Movement, along with local organizations such as Swadesh, Satkhira District Citizens' Committee, Nature and Life Club, and Women's Council, jointly organized this initiative. As many as 200 people participated in the program where they protested the LNG ambition and growing military capacity-building competition of the giant economies especially in Asia.

News Link – Desh Times

16. Sherpur:

Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Brotee, and other local environmental organizations organized a human chain in front of the new market in Sherpur. Around 100 individuals participated human chain to demand a just and equitable decrease in fossil fuel use.

17. Kuakata:

Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Kuakata Press Club, Amra Kolaparabashi, Hotel-motel Employees Association, and Nadi Paribrajok Daal jointly organized a human chain at the Kuakata Sea Beach at 02:00 pm. Around 200 people took part in the human chain to demand various issues regarding fossil fuel and other environmental issues. They call upon the protection of the mangrove forest of the coastal area of that locality.  

News Link – Star Sangbad , Prothom Surjadoy

18. Sylhet:

Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Brotee, Surma River Waterkeeper, Pradhikar, and Green Explorer Society organized a cycle rally on 15^th September at 08:00 am. The program was held at the Shahid Minar premises of the city. Around 100 cyclists took part in the rally where they aimed to raise awareness among the people and demand several points from the global leaders. Another 100 participants took part in the program. They call upon the world leader to take immediate action to end fossil fuels.

News Link – Eye News, Naya Shatabdi

19. Kutubdia:

Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Brotee, and Deep Surokkha Andolon collectively organized a human chain in front of Upazila Gate at 10:30 am. The Activists demand clean energy in various sectors instead of fossil fuel use. In addition to that, they demanded, a renewable energy policy and decreased expenditure on non-renewable sources. Around 65 people attended the program.

News Link – Cox’s Bazar News, The Daily Jay Jay Din

20. Mymensingh:

Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Broti, and other organizations organized a human chain and school children showed solidarity with the program in Mymensingh District. Along with 100 children and another 100 individuals attended the program joined the activities together. They called for a justified phase-out of the coal power plant.

21. Barguna:

Waterkeepers Bangladesh and Brotee organized a cycle rally and a cleaning campaign in order to show solidarity with the global protest to end fossil fuel ahead of the UNGA Conference and UNSC Climate Ambition Summit’23. The program kicked off at 10:00 am with a cycle rally and it came to an end with a cleaning campaign. They demanded proper action to uphold the issue of local public health as well and they reiterated the same demand we are campaigning for. Around 300 individuals participated in the program.

News Link – Bangladesh Protidin

22. Jointapur

On September 15, 2023, at 04.00 pm the Global Day of Action was observed by Boat Rally at Sari River, Jointapur, Sylhet district with the participation of 60 boatmen. The program was organized by Waterkeepers, Broti, and Sari Parjatan Boat Samity with the demand of no more fossil fuel and climate justice.

News Link – Bangladesh Post

23. Habiganj

Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Brotee, Tarunno Society, and Padakkhep organized a boat rally in different haors (wet marshland). The journey started at 9:30 from Kalardoba, Habiganj. Around 60 persons attended the program demanding protection and preservation of the waterbodies.

News Link - Dainik Shaistaganj

24. Pirojpur

Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Brotee, and some other local civil society organizations formed a human chain to end fossil fuel in Pirojpur a 9:30 am. Around 135 participants took part in the program. The participants reiterated the demands of transition away from fossil fuel and some other environment-related issues.

25. Gazipur

Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Brotee, GLTS, and local organizations arranged a number of events to express their solidarity in the global fight to end fossil fuel. Human chain, cultural show, and rally were the main activities of that program that started at 10:00 am. A total of 90 participants were at the venue during the program.

26. Cox’s Bazar

Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Brotee, Green Cox’s Bazar Shastho O Poribesh Unnyan Foundation, and Ideal School and College combinedly took different initiatives demanding various issues related to climate justice. Human chain, discussion session, and drawing competition were held that propagate the urgency of the need to end fossil fuel as well as justified transition to renewable energy. Around 350 people actively joined the program that started at 10:00 am.

News Link – Youtube