They raised the demand at a roundtable seminar at Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) auditorium in the capital.

The speakers demanded involving local government and community engagement for effective embankment management and maintenance for its sustainability in long term perspective and saving public resource.

M Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, executive director, COAST Trust moderated the seminar where Arif Dewan presented the key note with Dr Quazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmed, chairman, Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) in the chair.  

Arif, in his keynote, said people lose their livelihood opportunities in coastal areas and migrating to the cities due to the lack of essential embankments.

Even though Water Development Board (WDB) is responsible for constructing coastal embankment, they hardly address climate change needs and protecting coastal people, Dewan said adding that decentralisaiton is necessary.

He said budget should be allocated directly to district, upazila and even union level as local authorities can take instant decision.

Asik Elahi demanded to form ‘Coastal Development Board’ for better coordination for embankment construction and maintenance.

Community participation is necessary for designing embankment as they have appropriate knowledge besides the studies, said Shahiduddin Chairman.

“We’ve taken long term plan despite limited resource but better inter-sector coordination is needed to achieve the target in the coastal region,” said Dr Quazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmed.

Advocate Faridul Islam Chowdhury, upzila chairman, Kutubdia; Md Sahiduddin, chairman, Barghop union parishad, Kutubdia; Md Abdur Rouf, chairman, Kasimari UP, Shaymnagar, Khulna; Asik Elahi, president, Climate Forum, Shyamnagar; Md Rafiqul Alam and Shamsul Islam from Hatia and Swandip among others participated the seminar.