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Manifesto Talk: Water, Agriculture & Food Security Nexus

Manifesto Talk: Water, Agriculture & Food Security Nexus

📅 26 July 2025 | 🕘 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
📍 Auditorium, Department of Environment, Agargaon, Dhaka
Organized by: Socheton Foundation, Brighters, and Young Climate Action Network (YOUCAN)
Chief Guest: Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Interim Government (Environment, Forest & Climate Change)

🔹 Overview

The Manifesto Talk is part of the national “Road to Green Manifesto” series—an initiative designed to engage political stakeholders, experts, and youth leaders in dialogue around how election manifestos can meaningfully incorporate environmental justice, food systems, and youth-centered climate governance.

This session focused on the water-agriculture-food security nexus, a domain where Bangladesh’s climate vulnerability intersects with livelihoods, rural equity, and long-term resilience. With over 300 participants, including university students, climate professionals, political representatives, and media personnel, the dialogue created space for honest political reflection and collective agenda-setting.

Registration & Networking (08:30 AM – 09:30 AM)

Participants from political parties, youth organizations, civil society, academia, and media engaged in early networking and informal exchanges before the formal sessions commenced.

Inaugural Session (09:30 AM – 10:30 AM)

Opening Remarks:

  • Habibur Rahman, Senior Journalist and Chairman, Socheton Foundation

Guest Speakers:

  • Roufa Khanum, Assistant Director, Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research (C3ER)

  • Md Shahadat Hossain, Managing Director & CEO, O.CREEDS Ltd

  • A K M Sohel, Additional Secretary & UN Wing Chief, Economic Relations Division (ERD), Ministry of Finance

  • Arisha Khan, Executive Member, YOUCAN

  • Mohammad Azaz, Administrator, Dhaka North City Corporation

  • Students from the European University of Bangladesh

Session I: Political Commitments on Climate & Agriculture (10:45 AM – 12:00 PM)

Moderator: Habibur Rahman, Senior Journalist and Chairman, Socheton Foundation

Keynote Presentation:

  • Mirza Shawkat Ali, Director (Climate Change & International Conventions), Department of Environment

Speakers:

  • Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Standing Committee Member, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)

  • Saiful Haque, General Secretary, Bangladesher Biplobi Workers Party

  • Zonayed Saki, Chief Coordinator, Ganosamhati Andolan

  • Ehsanul Mahbub Jobayer, Central Assistant Secretary, Jamaat-e-Islami

  • Bobby Hajjaj, Chairman, Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM)

  • Barrister Nasir UddiAhmed Ashim, International Affairs Secretary, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)

  • Nurul Haque Nur, Chairman, Gono Odhikar Parishad

Session II: Seeds, Sovereignty & Food Security (12:00 PM – 01:00 PM)

Moderator: Mahmud Rakib, Special Correspondent, Ekhon TV

Keynote Presentation:

  • Sumaiya Binte Anwar, Program Manager, Research & Advocacy

Speakers:

  • Abdul Awal Mintu, Chairman, Lal Tir Seed Ltd

  • Zia Haider, Adviser to the Chairperson, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)

  • Barrister Nasir UddiAhmed Ashim, International Affairs Secretary, BNP

  • Asaduzzaman Fuaad, Member Secretary, Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party

  • Abdul Hannan Masud, Senior Representative, National Citizen Party

  • Md. Arifuzzaman Mamun, Diplomatic Correspondent, Daily Amader Somoy

  • Sohanur Amin, Director, Brighters

Chief Guest’s Address:

  • Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Interim Government, addressed the legal framework of food and environmental justice, calling for integrated reforms in environmental governance, agricultural policy, and manifesto accountability.

Session III: Expert Roundtable on Science-Policy Nexus (02:00 PM – 03:00 PM)

Moderator: Md Ibrahim Khaliullah, Development Researcher & Youth Organizer

Speakers:

  • Dr. Mohammad Kamruzzaman Milon, Senior Scientist and Agri-Climate Expert, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI)

  • Prof. Dr. Abdus Salam, Dean, Faculty of Science, University of Dhaka

  • Bazlur Rashid, Senior Meteorologist, Bangladesh Meteorological Department

  • Syed Taposh, Coordinator, Waterkeepers Bangladesh

  • Al Hafesh Soumik, Deputy Executive Director, Young Climate Action Network-YOUCAN

  • Saidur Rahman Siam, Founder & Director, Brighters

Closing

The event wrapped up with reflections on how political manifestos can advance equitable, climate-resilient development. Emphasis was placed on the role of scientific research, youth leadership, and inclusive governance in shaping Bangladesh’s political future—particularly in the agriculture and water sectors.

🎥 Watch the full programme here:

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For more details:YOUCAN Facebook page

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