Every year during the monsoon, people in northern Bangladesh live in constant fear of devastating floods. For them, rain is not a joy but a warning — of disruption, destruction, and deep uncertainty. Though floods often make headlines and trend on social media, many of the most critical and painful stories remain untold. What the public sees is often a filtered version of the truth.
To address this gap and bring authentic local insights to light, Youth for Policy (YfP) organized a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with local youth representatives from eight flood-prone districts.
During the discussion, youth participants shared firsthand experiences from recent floods: the measurable losses to crops, property, and livelihoods; the lack of timely cooperation from authorities; and the absence of effective early warning systems. They highlighted how vulnerable groups — particularly the elderly, women, and children — suffer the most due to the lack of safe shelter, medical aid, and clean water during emergencies.
Beyond local solutions, the youth emphasized that flood-related issues must be addressed at the policy level as well. One major concern they raised was the need to revisit water distribution policies between Bangladesh and its neighboring country, ensuring a more equitable and flood-resilient approach.
Jannatul, a youth leader from Gaibandha, shared “We know that during floods, silt accumulates in the rivers. Over the years, this sediment builds up, raising the riverbeds and reducing their water-holding capacity. But although there is a systematic way to remove this silt, that process is not being followed here.”
The group also proposed several local adaptation and mitigation strategies, such as:
- Establishing emergency medical response teams
- Promoting water preservation techniques
- Creating community-based safe shelters
- Conducting awareness campaigns ahead of the monsoon season
Importantly, they called for the formation of a river monitoring team, including representatives from local government, civil society, and concerned citizens. This team would track and prevent illegal activities — such as unauthorized sand extraction, river encroachment, poor riverbank maintenance, and mismanagement of local water channels — which significantly worsen the impact of floods.
This initiative by YfP highlights the importance of youth engagement in disaster management and policy advocacy. By amplifying grassroots voices, it aims to push for sustainable, inclusive, and locally informed solutions to one of the most pressing climate challenges facing northern Bangladesh.
