Improve char livelihoods to help attain SDGs: analysts

Lawmakers and development activists yesterday stressed the need for setting up an institution to improve the livelihood of char dwellers in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. 

Around 60 lakh people who live in the char areas lead a vulnerable life due to a lack of access to education, communication and health care facilities.

An independent foundation should be formed to replace the Char Development Board, said Planning Minister MA Mannan.

He spoke while addressing a national dialogue on “repositioning char development for attaining Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)” organised by Shamunnay, a non-profit organisation, at The Daily Star Centre in Dhaka.

The minister recommended people’s representatives, including lawmakers and upazila chairmen, lobby with the government to form the Char Development Institution. “This type of body will be effective for holistic transformation of the char lives.”

Abu Sayeed Al Mahmood Swapon, a whip of the parliament, alleged that hundreds of projects were implemented for river training or char development but money was wasted.

He demanded a special development body for char areas.

“Without the livelihood development of backward communities like those in char, haor, hill and coastal areas, SDGs will not be achieved,” he said.

Md Faridul Haque Khan, a lawmaker, said there is a need for a combined development plan for the char areas to use the allocation for development.

He said the allocation of Tk 100 crore for char areas was returned to the government exchequer in the last fiscal year due to a lack of policy about the utilisation of the fund.

MA Matin, another lawmaker, said there is no safety in char areas owing to weak communication system. Robbery is very common in the areas.

He suggested setting up cottage industries and fishery projects for income-generating activities for the people in the char areas. Dairy farms and dairy product purchase centres will be very effective along with educational institutions to ensure government services in the char areas, Matin said.

René Holenstein, ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh, appreciated the government measures aimed at improving char livelihood and expected continuous initiative for the char areas.He is hopeful about the role of elected public representatives to improve people’s livelihood.   

Khondker Ibrahim Khaled, chairman of the National Char Alliance, a platform that advocates for the welfare of char dwellers, said if non-governmental organisations work in coordination with lawmakers and local elected public representatives, chars will develop.

While presiding over the event, Atiur Rahman, chairperson of the Shamunnay, said char-dwellers are very vulnerable and lead miserable life. They are also the victim of the climate change, he said.

The former governor of the Bangladesh Bank added that the extreme poverty rate in the char areas is double the country’s extreme poverty rate of 11 percent.

Aroma Dutta and Shameem Haider Patwary, both lawmakers; Rassel Ahmed Liton, chief executive of SKS Foundation; Khairul Islam, country director of the WaterAid Bangladesh, and AKM Musha, country director of Concern Worldwide, also spoke.