A discussion meeting has been held in Sarankhola, a disaster-prone coastal upazila of Bagerhat, with the aim of improving the living standards and ensuring social development of marginalized communities.
The meeting was organised by the newly formed Sarankhola upazila unit Bashundhara Shuvosangho on Friday at the Sarankhola Press Club auditorium. With the event, the organization launched its activities in the upazila.
On 14 January, the approval of a two-member Advisory Council and a 35-member Executive Committee of the upazila unit was granted through a letter signed by Bashundhara Shuvosangho Director Zakaria Zaman.
On Friday, Sarankhola upazila unit Shuvosangho President and Kaler Kantho correspondent Mahidul Islam presided over the meeting. At the outset, he introduced the members of the newly formed Advisory Council and Executive Committee and outlined the organization’s goals, objectives, and future action plans.
Highlighting the coastal realities and development challenges, speakers at the meeting said that Sarankhola is a disaster-prone area where cyclones, tidal surges, salinity, and the impacts of climate change constantly threaten people’s lives and livelihoods.
As most residents depend on the Bay of Bengal and the Sundarbans for their livelihoods, poverty, unemployment, and school dropout rates are comparatively high in the area, they said.
Speaking as the chief guest, Shuvosangho’s Sarankhola unit Chief Adviser and Bagerhat district unit BNP’s Executive member Md Motiar Rahman Khan, said, “Most people in Sarankhola depend on natural resources. Due to disasters and poverty, many meritorious students are forced to abandon their education midway.
“To bring these marginalized communities forward, there is no alternative to education, awareness, and humanitarian assistance. I hope Bashundhara Shuvosangho will stand beside dropout students and the underprivileged people of this region,” he said.
Praising Bashundhara Group’s humanitarian role, another adviser, Md Abdul Jalil Anowari, principal of Rayenda–Rajair Fazil Madrasa, said, “Bashundhara Group is not just an industrial conglomerate; it is a humanitarian name. The role Bashundhara played during the COVID-19 pandemic and in every national crisis is commendable. I believe that through Shuvosangho, this humanitarian spirit will continue in the social development of Sarankhola.”
Shuvosangho Executive Committee member and Sarankhola Press Club President Sheikh Mohammad Ali, said, “The activities of Bashundhara Shuvosangho are not limited to providing assistance; it is an initiative to make people self-reliant. By standing beside poor families and meritorious students, this organization will bring positive change to Sarankhola.”
During the discussion, several key measures for the development of marginalized communities were highlighted.
These included educational support and stipends for dropout and underprivileged students, humanitarian assistance and rehabilitation during disasters, health and awareness programs for women and children, engaging youth in voluntary and social activities, and creating employment opportunities through skills development training.
Sarankhola upazila unit Shuvosangho President Mahidul Islam said, “Bashundhara Shuvosangho is a voluntary humanitarian organization. To be part of it, one must first be humane. Together, we want to take the marginalized region forward. Our goal is to enlighten this area through education, humanitarian assistance, and social awareness.”
Shuvosangho Executive Committee member and Sarankhola Press Club General Secretary Md Anwar Hossain, Vice-President Md Shaheenuzzaman Shaheen, General Secretary Md Russell Ahmed, Organizing Secretary Alim Al Raji Mukti, Women and Children Affairs Secretary Asma Akhtar, along with other members of the committee, were present.
The meeting concluded with a collective pledge to work together and extend full cooperation to ensure the success of the newly formed committee’s activities.
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
