During the 5-day Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) conference 2019 in Geneva, Bangladesh has been showcased as one of the most resilient countries in the world. But it remains one of the most vulnerable countries to the adverse impacts of climate change and disasters many challenges including rising temperature and increasing population. And to achieve Sustainable Development Goals in Bangladesh, it is important to incorporate climate change, disasters and associated uncertainty into our development programme. National budget plays crucial role in this regard.

Breaking the silence of social taboo, young girls and boys of Chanpara Community observed the International menstrual hygiene day 2019 with several activities to spread awareness among the people. Dr. Shafiur Rahman, Department Head of Occupational and Environment Health, NIPSOM, addressed the inaugural session as the Chief Guest and launched Menstrual Hygiene kit prepared with the support of ActionAid Bangladesh.

From an early age, I experienced some of the problems of women’s mobility in the city myself. Whether a woman or girl is working outdoors or a homemaker, educated or empowered, the situation is broadly the same. We often must begin the day thinking about how to dress in order to be safe, and then where to sit, dawn or dusk, to use public transport or not, and so many other issues (that amount to personal defence) just in order to move within our own communities. This is not freedom to access our cities.

In April 2018 ActionAid and partners adopted the Dhaka Declaration at the International Conference on the Rohingya Refugee Crisis and pledged to uphold its clauses. Article 14 of the Declaration holds us committed to ‘emphasize the need to constructively build on the strengths of the Rohingya population, particularly women and girls, and engage them as leaders in the design of any future sustainable development solutions in line with the SDGs’. Today on the eve of the one year ‘anniversary’ of this historic exodus and after a year of frenzied humanitarian intervention and advocacy, it is time to take stock of where we stand

Background The current Rohingya population taking refuge in Bangladesh amounts to over 1 million, with the majority comprising women and children. They are one of the most vulnerable groups of people deprived of basic human rights in the world today.

This Civil Society Response to the Climate Budget Report is a co-production of ActionAid Bangladesh (AAB), the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD), Action on Climate Today (ACT) and a wide range of civil society participants who attended a series of climate budget workshops. ActionAid is a global justice federation working to achieve social justice, gender equality and poverty eradication with over 15 million people in 45 countries across the globe. ActionAid started its operations in Bangladesh in 1983. As a member of the Federation, AAB works to achieve its mission and vision in four major areas: women’s rights and gender equity; resilience and climate justice; democratic governance; and young people.

The chair opened the session with a question for the audience regarding the connection between fashion industry and sustainable consumption and production. With many opinions centered around pollution, toxic effluent, waste management from the audience, the chair concluded that the Fashion Industry can play a critical role in attaining the Sustainable Development Goal 12. A presentation at the session by the keynote speaker revealed that Fashion Industry is contributing to global water waste by 20%, while apparel industry emits 10% of global carbon emission. With more than 4500+ garment factories currently operating in Bangladesh, Dhaka’s tanneries alone discharge nearly 22,000 cubic liters of toxic effluent daily into the Buriganga River.

South Asia has been affected by a number of disasters in recent years—natural, economic and conflict-related—drawing attention to the region’s vulnerability and pushing disaster risk reduction (DRR) and resilience up development and policymaking agendas. The role of women in DRR and building resilient communities has received less attention than it deserves

Fashion industry is considered to be the second biggest polluters in the world. With the rise of fast fashion and unplanned growth of fashion industry, there raises a great concern for the environment as well. While, globally, the textile sector is the second highest user of water contributing to water waste by 20%, the apparel industry emits 10% of carbon dioxide alone. Furthermore, only 15% of textile waste is recycled whereas the remaining 85% is sent to landfill which puts negative impact on the environment globally contributing to global warming. Chemical dyes used in the process leach into the soil, contaminating surface and groundwater.

ActionAid Bangladesh (AAB) in coordination with Democratic Budget Movement, the Parliamentary caucus concerned with national development and the annual budget, Dhaka University Centre on Budget and Policy organized ‘People’s Budget Assembly 2019’, a model parliament session to discuss on preparing a participatory budget reflecting hopes, rights and aspirations of the general people, The programme was held on 28 April 2019 at Engineers Institutions Bangladesh (IEB) in Dhaka. Speakers in this programme addressed that a decentralized budgeting process could be an effective means of attaining the goal of a democratic budget. Rashed Khan Menon, MP, said, “The employment issue should be clearly outlined in the budget. Otherwise, the unemployment rate will keep rising.”

Online TV channel, ITV (International Television) published a report on the International Youth Day celebration by Badhon Manob Unnayan Sangstha (Badhon) in Bagerhat. There was a colorful rally from the District Commissioner’s office to celebrate the event. Later on a discussion meeting was held at Khan Jahan Ali College Auditorium chaired by Mir Sawkat Ali Badsha from Ministry of Fisheries And Livestock. Mr rishikesh das, deputy director from the Department of Youth Development of Bagerhat along with other guests attended the dialogue session as well, where the speakers talked about the issues young people face and how to address these.