Protapnagar Union, Assasuni Subdistrict, Satkhira District, Khulna Division, Bangladesh – 15th of June 2023

Meeting with the government officials

Assasuni is the study site for the Bangladesh counterpart of the project. Before visiting the field site the entire project team had a meeting with the government officials – the Assistant Commissioner of Land, Upazila Fisheries Officer, Chief Medical Officer (Veterinary), Upazila Livestock Officer, Upazila Project Implementation Officer, and the Upazila Chairman from the ruling political party. The PIs of the three country teams introduced the project before the government officials along with eliciting the relevance of the project in the current scenario. PIs, while touching upon the project’s objectives, highlighted the importance of the ‘ENGAGE’ framework as adopted by the project in an inclusive sense. They shed light upon crafting an effective cross-sectoral engagement and cross-group networks along different layers of stakeholdership.

Figure 6. Government officials greet on behalf of the country teams

The implementing partners from both countries (Sajida Foundation from Bangladesh and Sundarban Jana Sramajibi Manch from India) unpacked their decade-long activities. They explained how they are placing themselves in alignment with the project objectives. The government officials remarked on the ecological value and the climate vulnerability of Sundarbans. Simultaneously, they discussed the live and livelihood conditions of the community within the ambit of risks.

Figure 7. Meet-up with government personnel at Assasuni