NETROKONA, Dec 15, 2025 (BSS) - A public dialogue titled "South Asian Public Dialogue on Addressing the Climate Crisis: From the Himalayas to the Haor Wetlands" was held here in the district today.

The event took place at the Parimal Rema Agroecology Centre in Chandigar village, a border area of Kalmakanda upazila in the district. It was jointly organised by the non-governmental research organisation BARCIK and the Green Coalition.

Development workers from Nepal's Social Work Institute and farmers from Bangladesh participated in the dialogue, which focused on the growing impacts of climate change in hilly and haor regions. 

For generations, people in these areas have faced droughts, floods, flash floods, hill torrents, sand deposition from upstream hills, storms, lightning, heatwaves and cold spells. Participants noted that climate change has intensified these challenges, particularly for farmers.

Speakers emphasised that practising agroecology could be one of the most effective ways to address the climate crisis spanning from the Himalayas to the hills and haor wetlands of Bangladesh.

The dialogue was attended by six development workers from Nepal, 31 male and female farmers from Bangladesh's border regions, and BARCIK development workers. BARCIK Director Syed Ali Bishwas, Regional Coordinator Ahidur Rahman, Gunjun Rema and Md Alamgir were also present.

During the discussion, farmers highlighted problems such as hill torrents, sand deposition, agricultural crises and climate-related risks. They shared indigenous coping methods and expressed their commitment to practising agroecology at the household level.

Key issues identified included flash floods and sand accumulation, lightning, dependence on markets for vegetables during the monsoon, crop damage caused by dense fog, losses due to cold weather, rising crop diseases and pests, heat and heatwave damage, excessive use of chemical pesticides and shortages of irrigation water.

Members of the Nepali delegation also shared initiatives undertaken by farmers and communities in their country to mitigate the impacts of climate change.