‎25 women of coastal area honoured for contributions to environment

Twenty-five rural women from the coastal areas of Satkhira have been honoured for their outstanding contributions to agriculture, biodiversity conservation, food security and community leadership amid the challenges of climate change, rising salinity and environmental degradation.

The recognition programme was organised on Thursday (October 15) at the premises of Akashlina Ecotourism Centre in Burigoalini union of Shyamnagar upazila, Satkhira, marking World Rural Women’s Day 2026 under the theme “Empowering Rural Women, Building a Resilient Future”. The event was jointly organised by BARCIK, a research organisation that has received the National Environment Award, and Green Coalition, an organisation working to protect the rights of communities dependent on agriculture, forests, the environment and natural resources in coastal areas.

Abu Affan Rose Babu, president of Green Coalition’s Satkhira district chapter, chaired the programme. Abdus Rouf, chairman of Burigoalini Union Parishad, attended as the chief guest.

Among the distinguished speakers were national agriculture award-winning farmer Alpona Rani Mistry; Kalyan Banerjee, adviser to Green Coalition; Waliul Islam, upazila agriculture officer; Professor Shahana Hamid; Samiul Azam Monir, president of Shyamnagar Upazila Press Club; Abdul Halim, president of the Coastal Press Club; and Saifuddin Siddiq, president of the Upazila Volunteer Association.

Local elected representatives, agricultural and environmental researchers, teachers, journalists, development workers, civil society representatives, farmers’ groups, voluntary organisations, young leaders and people from various professions attended the event.

Speakers said the 25 women had played important roles in collecting and preserving local seeds, protecting agricultural biodiversity, promoting agroecological practices, producing organic and chemical-free food, improving household nutrition, conserving the environment and natural resources, developing local knowledge and innovative farming techniques, advancing food sovereignty, and strengthening women’s empowerment and community leadership.

Despite difficult climatic conditions and limited resources, their sustained efforts have set an inspiring example of resilience, adaptation and sustainable development in coastal communities, they said.

A daylong exhibition was also organised to showcase rural women’s accumulated experience, traditional agricultural knowledge, local innovations and nature-based ways of life. Exhibits included indigenous and local seeds, uncultivated leafy vegetables and plant diversity, environmentally friendly farming technologies, organic agricultural inputs, local fruits and vegetables, traditional rice cakes, fuel-efficient cooking stoves, and cottage crafts and handicrafts made by women.

According to the organisers, rural women do more than ensure food and livelihoods for their families. They are living repositories of local seeds, guardians of agricultural diversity, partners in environmental conservation and leaders of social change. Recognising their contributions and ensuring their participation in decision-making are essential to building a climate-resilient and equitable coastal region, they said.

Farmers Mita Rani, Sarma Rani, Parul Rani Baidya, Shefali Begum and Delowara Begum, among those honoured, said the recognition had brought them pride and joy.

“This recognition from BARCIK and Green Coalition will encourage and inspire thousands of other women in the coastal region. It has also increased our sense of responsibility. We will continue working for communities whose livelihoods depend on agricultural biodiversity in coastal areas and for the welfare of the country,” they said.