Photo: BSS

KHULNA, Nov 26, 2025 (BSS) - Speakers at a stakeholder experience-sharing meeting today called for stronger citizen engagement and coordinated efforts to make Khulna a fair, inclusive, and climate-resilient city.

The event, organized by SIAM, an NGO and Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust, was held at the Khulna Press Club.

Speakers noted that rapid urbanization, climate-related disasters, the growth of informal employment, and uneven development continue to pose challenges to Khulna, despite increased economic activity following the opening of the Padma Bridge. 

They emphasized that low-income communities still lack access to safe water, sanitation, and healthcare, making inclusive development more critical than ever.

The meeting highlighted the efforts of the Active Citizen Platform, which brings together representatives from all 31 wards of Khulna City Corporation. The platform works to identify local issues, reflect citizen voices in policymaking, and promote climate-resilient and equitable initiatives.

Participants stressed that ward-level consultations, citizen monitoring groups, transparent governance, and disaster-resilient infrastructure are essential for sustainable urban development. 

They also called for collective action from government agencies, NGOs, civil society, and residents to make a just and inclusive Khulna a reality.

The event was chaired by Saifuddin Ahmed, Executive Director of WBB Trust. 

Deb Prasad Pal, Additional Divisional Commissioner (Education & ICT); Abu Rayhan Muhammad Saleh, Additional Police Commissioner; Md. Sayedur Rahman, District Education Officer; and Liaqat Hossain, General Secretary of the Head Teachers Forum, among others, addressed the event.