It is widely recognised that the climate crisis is threatening livelihoods in the Global South. What is largely overlooked, however, is that at the same time, concrete strategies for dealing with the consequences of the climate crisis are being developed by the people affected on the ground – pragmatically, inventively and often under enormous pressure.

Against this background, we warmly invite you to a special panel discussion. We would like to focus on those who are already experiencing the climate crisis as a matter of survival: women from rural regions of Bangladesh. 

Tuesday, 9 Juni 2026, 10 am – 12 noon
Gustav Stresemann Institute
Langer Grabenweg 68, 53175 Bonn

According to the UN, rural families in Bangladesh spend around US$2 billion a year on coping with climate-related damage – twelve times as much as the country receives in international government development and climate finance. At the same time, according to Oxfam, only around 10% of global adaptation funding actually reaches local communities, and rarely in the form of funds directly accessible to those affected. Significantly more international solidarity and better funding are therefore needed. Yet instead, political attention is waning, funding is being cut and international sympathy is dwindling.

Through this conversation, we aim to deliberately strike a different note and create a space for connection, empathy and solidarity. In this context, empathy means taking authentic voices seriously, recognising the reality behind the figures, and thereby making the urgency of climate justice tangible both emotionally and politically.

Asmaul Husna and Jamuna Rani, from the particularly vulnerable district of Satkhira in southern Bangladesh, share their life stories – tales of existential insecurity, but also of courage, self-empowerment and dedication. Their stories reveal just how real the climate crisis already is in Bangladesh’s villages, and the strategies people are developing to secure their future despite the most adverse conditions.

Md. Shamsuddoha, a climate researcher at the Centre for Participatory Research and Development in Dhaka, categorises the reports according to Bangladesh’s key challenges – ranging from effective governance and the involvement of those affected to the role of international development cooperation.

Climate researcher Insa Thiele-Eich explains how the interplay between environmental and social vulnerabilities leaves women particularly vulnerable to the consequences of the climate crisis.

The Bangladesh Forum Country Network would be delighted to welcome you to this inspiring exchange. Please register by 7 May 2026 at: info@bangladesh-forum.de