Dhaka, 15 October 2026: Right groups have called on COP31 to prioritize implementing existing climate commitments over new pledges. They urged the delivery of adequate, accessible and grant-based climate finance without imposing new debt burdens on developing countries. They also called for the implementation of the commitment to triple adaptation finance, ensuring that Loss and Damage finance reaches affected people rapidly and directly, and providing finance and technology transfer for a just transition away from fossil fuels.
Speakers stressed that people for whom adaptation is intended must have a meaningful role in determining and assessing adaptation progress. Highlighting growing risks to women farmers, including access to safe water, security, technology and health, alongside production and income losses—they called for women farmers to be recognized not merely as a vulnerable group but as independent producers and economic actors. They further called for tracking how much adaptation finance reaches women farmers and measuring real changes in production, income, control over resources, losses, time and labour burdens, and adaptive capacity. They also demanded direct and long-term finance for women farmers, equal access to productive resources, technology, markets and decision-making, integrated action on salinity, and equal pay for women agricultural workers.
Today, 15 October 2026, these demands were raised at a seminar titled “COP31 and Bangladesh’s Priorities: Climate Crisis, Agriculture and Women; Adaptation, Finance and Justice,” jointly organised by EquityBD, BCJF, COAST Foundation, AVAS, Bindu and Street Child at the CIRDAP Auditorium in Dhaka. The seminar was moderated by Mostafa Kamal, Director, COAST Foundation. Speakers included Dr. Md. Akter Hossain Khan, Chief Seed Technologist, Seed Wing, Ministry of Agriculture; Professor Dr. Mohammad Ali, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University; Rahima Sultana Kajol, Executive Director, AVAS; Imtiaz Ridoy, Country Lead, Street Child Bangladesh; A.K.M Jasimuddin, ED of ADB,Md. Motahar Hossain, General Secretary, Environment Journalists Forum; Md. Salauddin Babu, Journalist, SA TV; Nikhil Chandra Bhadra, Coordinator, Sundarban Protection Committee; Aminul Haque, Coordinator, EquityBD; Ahsanul Wahde from Manusher Jonno FoundationOmar Farukh and Iqbal Uddin from the BDCSO Process; Iqbal Farukh from Waterkeepers; Humayun Kabir Sumon from Green Voice; Golam Morshed from Hrida Bangladesh; Arfat from Youth Action Development; Moniruzzaman from AVAS; Shahinur Islam from Bindu; Christina Baroi Hiya from Street Child; Tuhin from OAB Foundation; and women farmers Nur Nahar Begum from Kuakata, Rina Begum from Satkhira, Kalpana Rani and Najma Begum. Representatives of various organisations, youth representatives, journalists, and other concerned individuals also participated in the discussion. The keynote paper was presented by M. A. Hasan, Head–Climate Change, COAST Foundation.
Dr. Md. Akter Hossain Khan, Chief, Seed Wing, Ministry of Agriculture, said grassroots organizations should come together to present their demands to the Ministry of Agriculture, while the government should establish small-scale local cold storage facilities. Climate-resilient seeds are also being developed and promoted for wider adoption.
Jasim Uddin, President, ADAB, said Bangladesh’s representatives in the COP negotiation team need to be more vocal and assertive. Although ours is an agriculture-based economy, our development planning has not been centered on agriculture. We have always focused on quantitative results.
Professor Mir Mohammad Ali, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, said we need to consider whether carbon trading, in the name of climate action, is effectively legitimizing continued greenhouse gas emissions by developed countries. Rahima Sultana Kajol, ED, AVAS, said, Women farmers must have meaningful participation, leadership and decision-making power in local adaptation planning and agricultural decision-making.
Imtiaz Hridoy, Team Lead, Street Child–Bangladesh, said, our policies do not adequately recognize women farmers as a distinct group, and this needs to be addressed. A one-stop service for women farmers should be introduced at the Upazila level under the Department of Agricultural Extension, enabling women farmers to access services and support from different government departments through a single platform.
Syed Aminul Haque, Coordinator, EquityBD, said, At COP, at least 50% of climate finance must be allocated to adaptation, backed by strong evidence of effective use and successful adaptation initiatives in Bangladesh. Climate policies and strategies should also adopt a bottom-up approach to ensure the needs and financing.
Please download related paper [Bangla Press] [English Press] [Position Paper] [Presentation]
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