Dnet holds sensitisation meeting in Moulvibazar

A sensitisation meeting was held on Tuesday (7 October) in Moulvibazar to create a collaborative environment among stakeholders and align efforts to ensure good governance and improved service delivery.

Organised by Dnet under the supervision of the Moulvibazar District Administration, the session took place at the Conference Room of Hotel Rest Inn. The meeting formally presented the project's goals, action plan, and findings from a needs assessment report, while seeking joint support from key government departments and local partners for the successful implementation of the project.

Md Mamunur Rashid, additional deputy commissioner (development and human resource management) of Moulvibazar, attended as special guest and moderator of the panel discussion. He reaffirmed the administration's commitment to the initiative, stressing two priorities — technological modernisation of government services and improving education for children of tea garden workers.

"The forum created new awareness and mutual understanding among participants," he said. "Since we are all working towards the same goals, moving forward together should be our collective plan."

The 27-month "Nagarik Shamannay" (Citizens' Coalition) project is being implemented under the Civic Engagement Fund (Nagorikata), with financial support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and Global Affairs Canada (GAC). Dnet is implementing the project in partnership with four local organisations — Janakalyan Kendra (JKK) in Kamalganj, Progoti Samaj Unnayan Sangstha (PSUS) in Sreemangal, Nishsho Sahayak Sangstha (NSS) in Kulaura, and Prochesta in Barlekha.

The project aims to enhance the capacity of civil society to promote gender and climate justice, ensuring equitable access to public services for marginalised communities, particularly women, youth, and ethnic minorities, in biodiversity-adjacent areas of four upazilas: Barlekha, Kulaura, Kamalganj, and Sreemangal.

Findings from the needs assessment report presented at the meeting revealed key challenges:

• Economic disparity: 51% of tea garden labourers and 36% of people with disabilities suffer from economic discrimination.

• Corruption in safety nets: 53% of female respondents reported paying bribes of Tk100–300 to receive social safety benefits.

• Climate risks: 64% of women in Kamalganj and Sreemangal lost their main source of income due to floods and landslides.

Representatives from civil society, the departments of Social Services, Women and Children Affairs, and Youth Development, as well as the Moulvibazar Press Club, participated in a panel discussion aimed at strengthening coordination between service providers and local organisations.

Mahmud Hasan, executive director of Dnet, said, "Over the next two years, our goal is to create success stories in Moulvibazar that will strengthen the next phase of this project. Let's work together and make this initiative our own."

Nurul Islam, representative of the Nagorikata Fund and lead expert for CSO capacity development and management at GFA Consulting Group, said, "The first phase of the Nagorikata programme aims to reach 1.6 million people across Bangladesh by 2027. Through Nagarik Shamannay, we will build the capacity of community-based organisations and connect them with relevant government institutions."

Asif Ahmed Tanmay, project manager of Nagarik Shamannay, conducted the session.