'Youth can drive positive change in fight against climate change'

Climate change depletes water tables, while pollution and urbanization suffocate water bodies. Traditional solutions like dredging offer temporary relief, but real change requires a people-driven movement. Youth must lead by conserving water, rejecting waste, and promoting sustainability. Collective action can drive lasting change, transforming society, said Hasin Jahan, country director of WaterAid Bangladesh, during a recent interview with The Business Standard's Foisal Ahmed, highlighting the urgency and way forward.

How did the idea for the BioCity originate? What inspired WaterAid to engage the youth?

Water is one of the most threatened resources in Bangladesh, with levels rapidly declining due to climate change, pollution, and unchecked urbanisation. Many water bodies have been filled in or destroyed, disrupting natural recharge systems and straining groundwater supplies.

To combat these climate-induced challenges, preserving and restoring our water bodies is essential. Traditional methods like dredging offer only temporary relief. Without sustainable solutions, water bodies are soon polluted or lost again.

Community involvement is key. Efforts must go beyond isolated projects to drive mass participation. To foster innovation, we engaged youth in a competition, drawing ideas from students in urban planning, engineering, architecture, and economics. Over 100 participants gained knowledge that will shape their future contributions to sustainable water management.

Under our integrated water management project, the best ideas will be implemented, with youth continuing to refine and execute solutions. This initiative lays the groundwork for long-term collaboration, ensuring a future where water bodies are restored and protected.

By combining community action, youth leadership, and sustainable solutions, we can secure Bangladesh's water resources for generations to come.

What role can BioCity play in addressing the environmental and urban challenges of Dhaka?

Real change begins with individuals, and youth play a key role. When they adopt sustainable habits – such as reducing waste, conserving water, and cutting pollution – they inspire others.

Small actions, multiplied, create a ripple effect. A generation rejecting single-use plastics and advocating for conservation drives broader change.

By empowering youth, we foster a culture of sustainability. When they lead, society follows.

What are the key takeaways from the projects presented at the grand finale?

In our country, project design is often handled by lifelong consultants who rely on repetition rather than innovation. Many projects are copied and pasted, lacking fresh ideas, awareness of modern technology, or an understanding of evolving societal needs—leading to ineffective outcomes.  

In contrast, the young participants here have presented truly innovative ideas. If we properly organise and refine the 140 projects developed by 140 youths, valuable solutions can emerge. While not all will be viable, a significant number hold real potential for impact.

Can BioCity serve as a model for youth engagement in broader environmental issues?

This can certainly be a model, but we have seen that working with youth has both advantages and disadvantages.

The reason is that they are young up to a certain age. Then, they enter into service and move to different places. Some of them will get a job, some will go abroad, and some will go outside Dhaka. 

However, the key advantage lies in sustained digital connectivity. A strong virtual network can keep them engaged, and even if only 5–10% remain actively involved, the impact would be significant. 

Meanwhile, the remaining 90% will carry these values forward, influencing their families and communities for years to come.

What are the major barriers to achieving sustainable urban wetland management?

One of the key challenges is the high cost of land in Dhaka, making it impossible to keep any land vacant, especially wetlands. Maintaining wetlands in the city is, therefore a significant hurdle.

WaterAid's mandate focuses on drinking water, and managing wetlands is beyond the scope of any single organisation. Protecting wetlands requires collective action from all authorities, backed by strong policies and effective law enforcement.

The overcrowded population, millions of homeless, slum dwellers, and low-income people in Dhaka often occupy low-lying areas and wetlands due to inadequate housing. 

That is why we need urban planning. Due to its absence, a chaotic situation has been created, and the wetlands are being encroached upon.

How does WaterAid collaborate with the government and stakeholders to create policies?

An urgent urban policy is needed, clearly defining housing and sanitation for low-income groups and daily commuters. A city must be inclusive, designed for all, not just the rich and middle class. 

Rajuk has formed a 9-member committee to improve Dhaka's livability, with each member focusing on areas like transport, playground restoration, drainage, and disaster management. My responsibility is sanitation and hygiene, and I will submit my recommendations next month.

What advice would you give to young people?

Youth have great potential, but they need to stay focused. Many are indecisive and easily influenced by their surroundings. While we want them to achieve a lot, what support is the government providing? Students abroad can access loans for education, so why doesn't our country offer similar schemes? 

The government should offer loans, particularly for technical education, enabling students to study and access better employment opportunities in fields with strong job prospects.

How does WaterAid plan to keep the momentum going after the BioCity event? 

Our goal is to create a platform that engages youth, focusing on how to retain their involvement and integrate them into our future projects. 

I envision them working as ambassadors for WaterAid. If they can raise awareness about hygiene and sanitation in their communities, the impact will be far-reaching.