National advocacy seminar reviews UPR-4 progress on climate-induced vulnerabilities
Data-Driven Roadmaps Urged for Climate Human Rights
- Experts call for evidence-based roadmaps and institutional upgrades to protect vulnerable populations
- Progress assessed on 12 climate-related recommendations accepted by the government for 2024–2027
- Civil society initiates an integrated platform for climate human rights monitoring and advocacy
Escalating climate impacts are intensifying human rights vulnerabilities in Bangladesh, disproportionately impacting frontline and marginal communities. To address these systemic risks, experts and civil society leaders have urged the government to formulate a comprehensive roadmap backed by institutional capacity upgrades, evidence gathering, and regular monitoring. The call was made at a national advocacy seminar titled 'Review of Progress in Implementing UPR-4 Recommendations to Protect Against Climate Change-Induced Human Rights Violations in Bangladesh', held at the BRAC Centre Inn in Dhaka on Saturday, 29 August 2026.
The event was jointly organized by the Center for Participatory Research and Development (CPRD), Action Against Hunger (ACF), and the Climate Justice Alliance-Bangladesh.
Delivering the opening address, CPRD Chief Executive and National Coordinator of Climate Justice Alliance-Bangladesh Md. Shamsuddoha stated that during the 4th Universal Periodic Review (UPR) cycle in 2023, a coalition of 15 civil society platforms submitted empirical evidence on climate-linked rights infringements. Subsequently, the government accepted 12 specific recommendations for implementation spanning 2024 to 2027, requiring systematic monitoring to bridge policy-action gaps.
Addressing as chief guest, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr. Nurun Nahar noted that the absence of dedicated institutional frameworks within multilateral climate negotiations to resolve climate-driven human rights violations remains a critical concern for Bangladesh. Sheikh Nur Ataya Rabbi, Program Manager at CPRD, presented the keynote paper detailing empirical data and policy progress across review cycles.
Speaking as special guest, Dr. Fazle Rabbi Sadeque Ahmed, former Deputy Managing Director of PKSF, emphasized inter-agency coordination, routine field data collection, and long-term policy advocacy. Executive Director of Manusher Jonno Foundation Shaheen Anam and former Additional Director General of the Department of Environment Md. Ziaul Haque also addressed the session. The seminar concluded with an initiative to establish a unified civil society platform to track climate-related rights infringements and coordinate strategic interventions.
//DBTech/SFS/MIS//
