Star, UNDP recognise five women for climate action leadership

The Press Release was first published in The Daily Star Click here to read the original publication.

When Shakila Islam was only 12 years old, her family was hit by the super cyclone Sidr in Barishal.

Since then, she has been passionate about tackling climate crisis and its multisectoral impacts. As a youth, Shakila co-founded YouthNet for Climate Justice.

Now, the platform is a large coastal-based youth movement for climate advocacy.

On the occasion of International Women's Day 2022, five women including Shakila were awarded as "Nirbhaya" (fearless) by The Daily Star and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Bangladesh yesterday.

The others are Kohinoor Akter of Chattogram, Hashi Begum of Barguna, Shahinur Akhter of Chandpur, and Shantona Khisa of Rangamati.

They were recognised for their "Leadership in Climate Action for Sustainable Future". They received crests and certificates during a ceremony at The Daily Star Centre in the capital.

"Women, children and elderly people are the most vulnerable to the negative impacts of global climate change. We are advocating so that women and other vulnerable groups of people can be protected from the adversity," Shakila said.

This was the second edition of the "Nirbhaya" initiative. Last year, five women received similar recognition for their selfless initiatives amid the pandemic.

Shahinur Akhter (32) was raised by a gypsy family in Chandpur after she was abandoned by her own family at the age of six.

Only being able to study up to fifth grade due to poverty, Shahinur now spends most of her monthly earning of Tk 5,000 from a sewing business on her two children's education.

She is also a community leader in Chandpur municipality under UNDP initiative, and received her award for her contribution.

Like her, Kohinoor Akter (42) a mother of two, is an inspiration for thousands of women in Chattogram.

During the pandemic, Kohinoor established 374 hand-washing stations and distributed over 66,000 bars of soap to local people. Besides, she has been relentless at efforts to prevent child marriage and domestic violence.

Shantona Khisa (38), a karbari (traditional village head) at Ramharipara under Naniarchar upazila of Rangamati, is now working under two local networks, contributing to conserving natural forests and resources and protecting safe habitats for wildlife.

On the other hand, with the aid of UNDP Bangladesh and support from local community leaders, Hashi Begum fought against ignorance, misinformation, and skepticism surrounding the dire reality of Covid-19 that made her a hero at her village Uttar Manoshitola in Barguna.

Addressing yesterday's ceremony, The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam said leadership skill requires courage, honesty, conscience, and the drive to serve others.

The awardees must have possessed such good virtues in them, he said.

On the impending threats of global climate change, he said the human civilisation has never faced such a challenge before.

There are many natural disasters that can be contained by combined efforts. However, climate change is a phenomenon that requires timely intervention, he added.

UNDP resident representative Sudipto Mukerjee assured that the "Nirbhaya" initiative will continue to take place in the next year and beyond.

Sudipto called upon his colleagues in UNDP Bangladesh to arrange further felicitations for the awardees in their localities to "amplify" their achievements to inspire others.

Sharmin Islam, gender analyst, UNDP Bangladesh, said by launching the initiative, they wanted to bring forth the unheard success stories to inspire people.