26/01/2026
The 3rd Coastal Water Convention 2026 concluded on 26 January at the CSS Ava Centre in Khulna, marking the end of three days of intensive dialogue, knowledge exchange, and policy engagement on coastal and water-related challenges in Bangladesh. The final day featured five thematic sessions, followed by a closing plenary that consolidated key outcomes and set a forward-looking agenda for collective action.
During the closing Plenary, the draft 12-point Khulna Declaration was formally presented by Mr. Shamim Arfeen, Member Secretary of the 3rd Coastal Water Convention Committee and Executive Director of AOSED. The declaration reflects the collective priorities and recommendations emerging from the convention, with a strong focus on water justice, climate resilience, ecosystem protection, and inclusive governance in
coastal regions.
The closing plenary was moderated by Prof. Dr. Kazi Maruful Islam of the University of Dhaka. Summaries of the thematic sessions were delivered by Abu Hana Mostafa Jamal of Coastal Voice of Bangladesh, Mohammad Zobair Hasan of DORP, Md. Zahidur Rahman, WASH Expert, and Dr. Tusar Kanti Roy of KUET. Their reflections highlighted key research findings, community experiences, policy gaps, and practical solutions
discussed across the convention’s sessions.
Supplementary opinions on the draft Khulna Declaration were shared by Mr. Mohon Kumar Mondal, Executive Director of LEDARS; Tamanna Rahman, Thematic Lead for Climate and Resilience at Practical Action in Bangladesh; Roufa Khanum, Assistant Director at C3ER, BRAC University; Mohammad Zobair Hasan, Deputy Executive Director of DORP; and Mr. Saqib Huq, Managing Director of ICCCAD. The speakers emphasized
the importance of translating the declaration into actionable commitments, strengthening multi-stakeholder collaboration, and ensuring that community voices remain central to policy processes.
Solidarity remarks and the vote of thanks were delivered by Mr. Rafiqul Islam Khokan, Co-Chair of the 3rd Coastal Water Convention and Executive Director of Rupantar. He
acknowledged the contributions of partner organizations, speakers, volunteers, and participants for their active engagement and sustained commitment to advancing coastal water advocacy.
The closing message of the convention was delivered by Mr. Khairul Islam, Regional Director for South Asia at WaterAid. He underscored the need for continued momentum and collective efforts through this advocacy platform to develop a successful and effective roadmap toward the Bangladesh Water Convention 2028.
With the presentation of the Khulna Declaration and the reaffirmation of shared commitments, the 3rd Coastal Water Convention 2026 concluded with a renewed call for coordinated action to address coastal water challenges and to strengthen resilience, equity, and sustainability for Bangladesh’s coastal communities.
