On June 22 at 10 am, the development organization ‘LEDARS,’ the civic organization
‘Sundarbans and Coastal Protection Movement,’ and the Satkhira Climate Advocacy
Forum organized a “Meet the Press” event after an on-site visit of the current situation
in the cyclone Ramal-affected coastal areas. From June 20 to June 22, a delegation led
by prominent media personality Mr. Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul visited the southwestern
coastal area and attended this event.

The meet the press event, presided over by Climate Advocacy Forum convener
Professor Abdul Hamid and conducted by Sundarbans and Coastal Protection
Movement coordinator Mr. Nikhil Chandra Bhadra, featured speeches from prominent
media personalities including Mr. Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul, Mr. Md. Aminur Rasul, Joint
Secretary of BAPA, Mr. Mir Mohammad Ali, Chairman of the Aquaculture Department at
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Abu Hena Mustafa Kamal, Assistant Professor at
KUET, Aminul Haque Bhuiya, Satkhira representative of Channel i, Abul Kalam Azad,
staff reporter of Prothom Alo, Kalyan Banerjee, Satkhira representative of Daily
Sangbad Protidin, Asim Baran Chakraborty, correspondent of New Age and Samayer
Khobor, Ruhul Kuddus, journalist of Maasranga Television, Mostafizur Rahman of
Samay TV, staff reporter Momtaz Ahmed Bapi, district representative of DBC News M
Belal Hossain, staff reporter of Daily Janakantha Mizanur Rahman, editor of Daily
Dakshin’s Moshal, Principal Asheq E Elahi, executive director of Leaders Mr. Mohan
Kumar Mondal, coordinator of Sundarbans Coastal Protection Movement Nikhil
Chandra Bhadra, and district representative of Bangladesh Television Md. Mozzaffar
Rahman.

Mr. Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul stated that the most affected areas by the cyclone are
Paikgachha and Koyra Upazilas in Khulna. An on-site visit on June 20 and 21 revealed
that the people there, especially women, are living in dire conditions. The
embankments, houses, roads, fish farms, crops, and social institutions have been
damaged. Sources of potable water have been destroyed. The Sundarbans, a
UNESCO World Heritage site, has suffered extensive damage, including the death of
wildlife. Although various relief and rehabilitation measures have been taken by the
government and non-governmental organizations, they are insufficient. He called for
NGOs to step forward in the post-disaster rehabilitation efforts alongside the
government. Earlier, on June 20, at an exchange meeting held in the Paikgachha
Upazila auditorium, he spoke about adopting special plans for the people of the
southwestern coastal region.