Recognition Ceremony for “Upokulbandhu” from the Forest-Dependent Community in Honor of Contributions to Climate Change Awareness, Sundarbans Protection, and Afforestation

On Thursday, August 21, 2025, a recognition ceremony and tree distribution program was held at Banshree Shikkha Niketan Secondary School, Munshiganj Union, Shyamnagar Upazila, organized by the forest-dependent community. The event honored Mostafa Nuruzzaman, Founder and Chief Executive of Shushilan, with the title of ‘Upokulbandhu’ for his outstanding efforts in climate change mitigation, Sundarbans protection, and afforestation.

The ceremony, attended by nearly 800 community members, was graced by Mst. Roni Khatun, Upazila Executive Officer of Shyamnagar, as the Chief Guest, and presided over by Mahmudah Begum, President of the Satkhira Co-Management Executive Committee. Other notable guests included school Headmaster MD. Abdul Karim, Nikhil Chandra Bhadra from the Sundarbans Coastal Protection Movement, and Md. Nasiruddin Faruk, Deputy Chief Executive of Shushilan and members of Shushilan Top Management Committee.

The event featured speeches from four community representatives and a traditional Munda welcome ceremony. Shushilan’s Cultural Team presented a picture drama on environmental protection. The event was facilitated by Shahina Pervin, Deputy Director-Program of Shushilan. Speakers highlighted Shushilan’s impactful work since 1991, focusing on sustainable development, disaster risk reduction, and women's empowerment.

While receiving the honorary crest at the event, Upokulbandhu Mostafa Nuruzzaman expressed his gratitude to the forest-dependent people. He said that Shushilan has been working to ensure the rights of forest-dependent communities and to improve the socio-economic condition of marginalized groups. So far, on behalf of Shushilan, around one hundred km of roadside plantations and one thousand hectares of mangrove plantations on char lands have been carried out, for which it has received three national awards. He added that the love and respect from the forest-dependent community have further increased his sense of responsibility.

In the event, UNO Ms. Roni Khatun said, 'Through adaptation, marginalized people affected by climate change must be made partners in development. In all leadership of Upokulbandhu, we have made a collective commitment for our land, our water, and our forest. This initiative has shown us how women’s leadership, youth participation, and community unity can bring about significant change.

Nikhil Chandra Bhadra said, ‘The adverse impacts of climate change have devastated the biodiversity and ecosystem of the Sundarbans and the coastal region. Many forest-dependent people, including fishers, woodcutters, and honey collectors, are losing their livelihoods and are being forced to leave their areas. Initiatives must be taken to ensure alternative employment for them. He also voiced although Shushilan has been carrying out remarkable work, it has not received the publicity or recognition it truly deserves. Upokulbandhu is a publicity-shy person, but I firmly believe that at the national level, there should be greater preferment and acknowledgment of these contributions for the welfare of coastal people and forest dwellers. Additionally, Shushilan distributed saplings among the students of the school. The ceremony concluded with the planting of trees by the Upokulbandhu, promoting afforestation efforts in climate change mitigation. The event was filled with vibrant moments, inspiring all the attendance. The event received wide attention, being covered and reported by 41 local and national electronic media outlets.