Youth Voices from Sylhet: Climate Change and the Call for Inclusive SRH Policies
Sylhet, August 28, 2025 —
Climate change is not only disrupting livelihoods and the environment, but also deeply affecting young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. To address this pressing reality, a daylong Divisional Youth Workshop was held in Sylhet, bringing together young representatives from haor, hill tracts, tea garden communities, and ethnic minority groups.
The workshop was organized by SERAC-Bangladesh under the Youth Catalyst project, with support from UNFPA Bangladesh and funding from Sida.
Youth Experiences from the Frontlines
During group discussions, participants highlighted how:
leave them deprived of basic healthcare, directly impacting their access to SRH services. These lived experiences laid the foundation for youth-driven recommendations for policy reform.
The event was chaired by Abu Saleh Md. Forqan Uddin, Divisional Director, Family Planning Department, Sylhet, and welcomed by S.M. Shaikat, Executive Director, SERAC-Bangladesh.
Special guests included Dr. Md. Anisur Rahman, Director, Health Department; Md. Ferdous Anwar, Director, Department of Environment, Sylhet; Shahina Akter, Deputy Director, Department of Women Affairs; and Md. Niyazur Rahman, Deputy Director, Family Planning Department.
“Ensuring sanitation and menstrual health management for women in flood-prone areas is critical, and the specific needs of tea garden and haor regions must also be addressed.”
“With 23% of Bangladesh’s population being adolescents, their role in shaping SRH policies is vital. No sustainable progress is possible without positive change in social attitudes—and youth can be the driving force behind that change.”
“We will compile youth voices into a white paper and submit it to the Ministry of Health, ensuring their needs are reflected in policymaking.”
Using structured questionnaires, youth participants shared their recommendations, which were later refined by experts into policy suggestions. These insights will inform national-level advocacy to build climate-resilient and inclusive SRH services.
The workshop was also attended by SERAC-Bangladesh Program Lead Shahina Yasmin; Innovation & Youth Specialist Md. Nazmul Hasan; Finance & Admin Coordinator Md. Omar Faruk Khan; and Communication Officer Enamul Haque Rony. Their facilitation ensured that the voices of young participants were captured effectively for future policy advocacy.