Youth and children pledge action on climate change, cyberbullying, and social issues at Khulna forum. Photo : BSS

KHULNA, March 12, 2026 (BSS) - Children and youths have expressed strong commitment to raising awareness about climate change, safe food, cyber 
bullying, drug addiction and other social issues at a Children and Youth Forum conference held in Khulna.

Organised by World Vision's Khulna City Area Programme, the conference was held on Tuesday at the CSS Ava Centre in the city, where around 70 children 
and young participants joined the programme.

According to the organisers, separate Children and Youth Forums exist in all 31 wards of the Khulna City Corporation (KCC). Each children's forum consists 
of 15 members and each youth forum has 13 members, bringing the total number of participants involved in these forums to 896 across the city. 

KCC Administrator Nazrul Islam Manju said the government plans to plant five crore saplings in the first year to tackle climate change and hoped the 
children and youth forums would support plantation drives across the city's 31 wards.

Senior Manager of the programme, Fully Sarker, said the initiative is part of a project aimed at supporting children and other vulnerable groups. 

She noted that the Children and Youth Forums are active in all 31 wards of KCC and the development programme will continue until 2035. 

Through the project, children and youths are being connected with various government and non-government organisations to build awareness and take 
initiatives against child marriage, child abuse and school dropouts.

She said the forums have already prevented six child marriages in the past three months and are also working with persons with disabilities. 

Currently about 4,000 children are registered under the programme in Khulna and the number is expected to reach 8,000 by 2027.

National Child Forum member Samia Jannat said she has been able to work for children through the platform, helping prevent 10 child marriages, planting 
500 trees and collecting 25 maunds of plastic waste.

Assistant Professor of KUET Dr Anjum Tasnuva presented a multimedia presentation on climate change and adaptation, highlighting its impact on 
nature, agriculture and livelihoods.

Officials from food safety, women affairs, youth development and police also spoke at the event, stressing the need for awareness and responsible use of 
technology to protect children and youths from cyber bullying and other social risks.