Call for collective action as Meghna Knowledge Forum II concludes in Bangkok

The three-day Meghna Knowledge Forum II (MKF II) concluded today (25 July) at the Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok, drawing renewed commitment from Barak-Meghna River Basin stakeholders (Bangladesh and India) to strengthen transboundary cooperation, community-led conservation, and inclusive governance across the basin.

On the final day's valedictory session, Priyanka Sarkar, a consultant on green transition, environment and climate change at NITI Aayog – India's premier government policy think tank – summarised insights from the youth-led sessions by asserting that while young people are actively working across the basin, they face limited access to formal spaces of influence. 

"Youth are already acting," she said, "but activism without access to the right data and entry points into policymaking is not enough." 

She called for a formalised, basin-wide youth platform and proposed a blended knowledge system using GIS (Geographic Information System) tools, memory mapping, and Indigenous ecological practices.

Fahmida Sultana, a BSc student in Geography and Environment at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology in Bangladesh, emphasised the value of participatory tools like the River Governance Game used during the intergenerational dialogue. 

"We saw that even when goals are shared – like wetland restoration – methods often differ between sectors," she said. Her key takeaway was the urgent need to co-create inclusive governance spaces where both Indigenous people and youth can lead, not just be consulted.

Sarowar Alam, the programme manager for species and habitats at the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Bangladesh, highlighted persistent problems in the Barak-Meghna Basin, the need to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices, and the importance of improving knowledge and data sharing. 

He also drew attention to the necessity of technology transfer, expanded funding opportunities, inclusive policy processes, and improved access to climate finance.

Ashu Balhara, senior executive (water) at Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham), argued that the private sector must play a more central role in basin resilience. 

"Not engaging the private sector is no longer an option," she said. "They can provide financial, technical and training support—but must also value Indigenous knowledge systems." 

She stressed that collaboration across sectors, not working in silos, would be key to long-term success.

Veena Vidyadharan, feminist influencing lead at Oxfam's TROSA PMU, noted that the forum helped clearly identify the region's challenges. "The time for diagnostics is over," she said. "We must now prepare scalable business models for community-based ecosystem services, especially in regions like Meghalaya and the Jaintia Hills that hold immense potential for cross-border trade."

Yash Veer Bhatnagar, country representative of IUCN India, highlighted the clear linkages between biodiversity and human wellbeing. "The condition of biodiversity reflects the condition of society," he said. 

He called for area-specific biodiversity planning tied to broader conservation goals, and reiterated the value of OECMs (Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures) to support community-led stewardship.

Thanapon Piman, senior research fellow at Stockholm Environment Institute in Thailand, observed that communities in Northeast India and Bangladesh are confronting remarkably similar ecological pressures. "Conservation must be a symbiotic relationship between people and ecosystems," he said, adding that all future planning must recognise interlinked landscapes.

Mrinal Saikia, assistant professor at Nowgong College, India, introduced the next phase of the Youth for Meghna (Y4M) programme, including the launch of six new research fellowships with mentorship. 

"We're laying the foundation for a research network across the Barak-Meghna Basin," he said. "We must think long-term and bring more community-rooted youth into these conversations."

Tareq Aziz, programme officer (water and wetlands) at IUCN Bangladesh, closed the reflections by emphasising that women's contributions to ecological restoration must be recognised and documented. He underscored the importance of working with endangered species and involving local communities in conservation efforts. 

"We need to list and analyse ecosystem services at the basin level," he said. "Community engagement and traditional knowledge are not optional — they are fundamental." 

Aziz advocated for science that is rooted in culture, and for youth-led monitoring and research to take the lead in shaping the future of the basin. "People's cultural and spiritual connection to the river," he said, "is what often prompts them to take charge."

Remy Kinna, legal officer with the UNECE Secretariat, reminded participants that international legal frameworks can only be effective when grounded in local voices. "The UN Water Convention supports community participation, and Bangladesh has signed on," he said. 

"The real challenge is to build clear pathways for local-to-global engagement—not just token representation." He encouraged youth and community groups to use the resources offered by global conventions and shape interventions that support cross-border cooperation.

Madhulika Shome, programme manager at the North-East Affected Area Development Society (NEADS), India, highlighted the pressing issues of flash floods and wetland loss. She advocated for strengthening village-level institutions like cooperatives to implement practical innovations such as Bamboo Drip Irrigation. "We've learned from Bangladesh about community-led erosion management and wetland restoration," she said. 

"Justice and governance are crucial if community adaptation strategies are to survive in the long run." She also flagged the need to bridge fisheries policy gaps and rethink the climate finance architecture to better support humanitarian networks.

The forum concluded with valedictory sessions moderated by Vishwa Ranjan Sinha, senior programme officer (Water and wetlands) at IUCN Asia Regional Office, and Raquibul Amin, head of programme management at IUCN Asia. 

Organised under IUCN's BRIDGE initiative and supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), MKF II brought together over 150 participants from across South and Southeast Asia. The Business Standard was the event's official media partner.