On Saturday, 28 June 2025 at 4 pm Dhoritri Rokhhay Amra (DHORA) with other organizations organized a public meeting at the Kalarmachara Primary School grounds in Maheshkhali, Cox’s Bazar district, demanding fair initiatives from the government and the international community to address the multidimensional crisis affecting the lives and livelihoods of coastal communities due to climate change. The main goal of the public meeting was to highlight the demands for the protection of the livelihoods, food security, and economic rights of salt farmers, sugarcane farmers, and fishermen of this region, who are affected by the climate crisis, and to raise public awareness about these issues.
Sharif Jamil, member secretary of DHORA and member of the global board of directors of Waterkeeper Alliance, was present as the chief guest at the public meeting. He said in his speech that reckless industrialization is underway in the region to exploit the geographical opportunities of Maheshkhali and Matarbari for commercial and communal interests. The blueprint to evict salt and sugarcane farmers is being implemented by establishing corrupt projects like coal and gas for foreign interests, leaving local people in the dark. The interim government should halt all heavy industry construction in the region until a transparent, science-based, and inclusive strategic environmental assessment is completed. The people of the country will never allow salt to become an import-dependent product, threatening the country’s food security.
The special guest was Professor Dr. Mohammad Zahirul Haque, Vice Chancellor of Sylhet Metropolitan University. He said that although developed countries are responsible for climate change, the natural environment of countries like Bangladesh is suffering from its impact. Bangladesh has been struggling for a long time to ensure climate justice. However, developed countries are opposing ensuring climate justice by providing loans in the name of compensation. The opinions of local residents should be taken by ensuring an impartial and clean environmental survey. In a civilized country projects are not carried out without the opinions and fair share of the locals. We want to see proof that we live in a civilized country.
Md. Nur Alam Sheikh, coordinator of Sundarban Rokhhay Amra also spoke. He said that to save the farmers of Maheshkhali, a fair price for salt must be determined and implemented. Direct sales must be ensured so that the farmers can sell directly without intermediaries. Government assistance or subsidies should be provided. Compensation and rehabilitation arrangements should be made for farmers affected by natural disasters. Policies should be made for land protection and salt cultivation. Salt imports should be controlled. Importing cheap foreign salt must be stopped in the interest of domestic production.
Special speeches were given by Sanjida Rahman, coordinator of Chunati Rokhhay Amra, and freedom fighter Syed Abdul Mabud, president of Gorjan Samaj Kalyan Sangstha. Among others who spoke at the meeting were Faridul Alam Shaheen, joint convener of DHORA-Cox’s Bazar, Delwar Hossain, coordinator of DHORA-Pekua, Mohammad Kaiser Hamid, coordinator of DHORA Moheshkhali, Maulana Osman Gani, teacher of Adarsh Dakhil Madrasa, and local leaders.
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