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.
