Event name: River Talkies 10: Political Stability for Environmental Protection

Date: December 27, 2023

Place: Jhauchar, Keraniganj, Dhaka.

Waterkeepers Bangladesh (WKB) successfully implemented a two-year project titled “Promoting democratic governance and collective advocacy for environmental protection in Dhaka city” under Promoting Advocacy and Rights Activity of Counterpart International funded by USAID. The goal of the project was CSOs, and citizens implement effective, evidence-based advocacy and targeted community-based action and changing mindsets of citizens and policy makers, leading to lower pollution levels in Dhaka’s rivers and environment. Upon completion of the two-year period, the project continued for the third year with effect from 16 August 2023. The goal of the project in this phase is for Citizens and politicians to exercise their democratic rights to lower pollution levels and protection of rivers in Dhaka. As per the plan of activity under this phase, the WKB organized this river talkie as part of the advocacy process. The river talkie was organized at Jhawchar, Bosila (Keraniganj), Dhaka by the riverside of Buriganga on 27 December 2023. The topic for the river talkie was “Political Stability for Environmental Protection”. WKB Lead, Sharif Jamil anchored the show. He welcomed and briefed about the concept of the river talkie and project. The guest speakers of the talkie were Mr. Sunil Shuvo Roy, Presidium Member, Jatiya Party, Mostofa Alamgir Ratan, Head of Media Department, Workers Party of Bangladesh, Preeti Kana Sikder, Assistant Professor, Department of Law, Bangladesh University of Professionals and Foysal Hossain, Editor, The River Bangla. In the River Talkie, the speakers stressed the need for political stability for protection of the rivers. They said rivers play a very important role in keeping environmental balance. The involvement of political leaders, government administration, bureaucrats has made protests against river encroachment difficult. If there is political stability and accountability, people can speak out against river encroachment and environmental degradation. When there is political stability, the government is accountable to the people. In the name of overall development of the country, only structural development is taking place, but human development is not taking place. There should be overall development including education, medical, and social development, then the environment will also be developed. If patriotism increases not only among politicians but also among all, we can prevent environmental pollution. Whenever people talk about environmental pollution, they only talk about industrial waste, but environmental pollution is caused also by many other things. This river talkie was a talk show program, which was staged on a River bankside and broadcasted live. The show is expected to bring river pollution into the mainstream policy discussion involving various sectors and professions. The talk will help to add value to the overall advocacy campaign. The show was broadcasted live on 27 December 2023 from 12:45 PM from Jhauchar, Keraniganj, Dhaka by the bank of river Buriganga. The show was broadcasted live on WKB Facebook page and PAR Online Platform for CSOs (PAR Online Platform for CSOs | Facebook).