Civil society organisations and researchers have submitted a memorandum to Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury demanding special allocation and inclusion of 21-point proposals in the proposed national budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year to address the growing crisis in Bangladesh’s coastal regions.
The memorandum was submitted on Thursday by the Dream Research and Development Foundation (DRDF) and the Sundarbans and Coast Protection Movement. The same memorandum has also been sent to Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo and other concerned ministries.
The memorandum, signed by DRDF President and Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University researcher Mir Mohammad Ali and Sundarbans and Coast Protection Movement Coordinator Nikhil Chandra Bhadra, stated that disasters are striking the coast continuously, salinity is increasing rapidly, and shortages of safe drinking water and food are growing.
“The agricultural and health systems are collapsing. This is rendering people jobless and increasing the number of displaced populations,” the memorandum said.
The 21-point proposals include declaring coastal areas as climate and disaster-risk zones, forming a Coastal Development Board for integrated planning, establishing environmentally friendly economic zones, constructing sustainable embankments, ensuring safe drinking water in remote coastal areas, renovating cyclone shelters to be women-, child-, disabled-, and elderly-friendly, and taking effective measures to protect the Sundarbans.
Despite the current government’s electoral commitments, several proposals, including the special allocation, were not included in the proposed budget. Local MPs also raised these issues during budget discussions in parliament.
The memorandum demands the inclusion of these proposals before the budget is passed to protect the lives and livelihoods of coastal communities.
Mir Mohammad Ali said the lack of long-term planning and inaccessible geographical location have deprived remote areas of development. “The coastal crisis is no longer just about disasters; it is a question of fishers, farmers, fisheries resources, food security, and the national economy,” he said.
He said boat registration, digital tracking, weather warnings, rescue systems, and proper assistance during fishing bans are essential. “An integrated action plan with special allocation in the national budget is now the need of the hour,” he added, expressing hope that the government will take effective initiatives before the budget is passed.
