In Bangladesh’s haor region, where floods and isolation frequently disrupt lives, young people came together to address how climate change 
impacts access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
The Youth-Led Workshop on SRHR and Climate Resilience in Haor Communities, organized by SERAC-Bangladesh under the Youth Catalyst initiative of UNFPA Bangladesh with support from Sida, brought together youth representatives, health officials, and development partners to co-create locally driven, youth-led solutions for climate-resilient SRHR services.
Dr. Zosim Uddin, Civil Surgeon, DGHS–Sunamganj, noted that “we can’t stop climate-focused challenges, but we can reduce loss and damage.” He emphasized adaptation as key to resilience and urged for greater investment in empowering girls in hard-to-reach areas like Dharmapasha.
“Many areas are still inaccessible — girls often can’t attend school or even buy clothes. We must empower them to raise their voices and prioritize their choices,” he said, adding that limited service providers and climate barriers make healthcare delivery in Sunamganj especially difficult.
Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Deputy Director, DGFP–Sunamganj, who chaired the session, stressed collective action:
“We may have limited resources, but if we work together, we can make a change. Youth are the changemakers — take what you’ve learned here and share it. When floods come, we must be prepared. Government, NGOs, and communities must unite to face these challenges.”
Participants shared experiences on how floods, waterlogging, and isolation disrupt health and SRHR services. They developed practical youth-led strategies to strengthen local health systems and ensure inclusive SRHR responses during climate emergencies.
The workshop was joined by Md. Mohaiminul Haque, Assistant Director, Department of Environment; Mohammad Shamsul Alam, Family Planning Facilitator; and Dr. Puja Saha, SRHR Coordinator, Jhpiego.
Md. Salim Mia, Deputy Director (Program), delivered the welcome remarks; Rabiul Islam, SBCC Officer, facilitated the sessions; and Md. Nazmul Hasan, Innovation and Youth Specialist, presented the program’s objectives. The event was smoothly coordinated by Md. Najmul Islam, Finance Associate.
Insights from this workshop will contribute to a national white paper on youth-centered, climate-adaptive SRHR services in Bangladesh, reinforcing the importance of youth leadership and cross-sector collaboration for a resilient and equitable future.
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