A discussion meeting in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, has proposed five initiatives, including forming a Youth Community Engagement Group (YCEG), to strengthen mechanisms for conveying local communities’ problems and complaints to the relevant authorities.
The youth-led organisation Embolden Bangladesh organised the meeting at the conference room of Palongkhali Union Parishad, with support from ActionAid Bangladesh, technical assistance from SHED and co-financing from the European Union.
The meeting was held under the project ‘Youth-Led Peacebuilding and Social Cohesion Initiatives in Bangladesh and Myanmar’. Local government representatives, NGO workers, youth representatives, and members of different community groups attended.
Participants discussed the challenges facing communities living near Rohingya refugee camps, existing complaint mechanisms, barriers to accessing services, and the role of local government and relevant institutions in maintaining social cohesion.
Afifa Yaser Ulfa, operations lead at Embolden Bangladesh, moderated the discussion.
Participants said local communities in Ukhiya, particularly those living near the Rohingya camps, faced various challenges involving livelihoods, public services, infrastructure and social issues. They stressed the need for more effective communication between residents, local government and relevant institutions to address these problems.
Anjuman Ara, a former member of Palongkhali Union Parishad, said residents approached local representatives with various problems, but many did not know where to seek help.
‘Making the complaint process easier would reduce people’s difficulties. Local government, young people and development organisations need to work together in a coordinated manner,’ she said.
Nasima Shahin, an NGO representative at the meeting, said receiving complaints alone was not enough; authorities also needed to ensure complaints reached the relevant offices and that follow-up action was taken.
‘Safe and accessible complaint mechanisms are particularly important for women and marginalised communities,’ she said.
Rayhan Uddin, a youth representative of In Search of Humanity, said young people often witnessed problems in their communities but did not always know where or how to raise them.
He said involving young people in the process could improve communication between residents and the relevant authorities.
The five proposed initiatives include forming a Youth Community Engagement Group comprising local youth representatives; raising awareness about complaint procedures across union wards; appointing a focal person in coordination with the union parishad; establishing a system to track complaints and inform complainants of progress; and holding regular coordination meetings among relevant stakeholders.
The meeting also proposed involving the local youth organisation In Search of Humanity in operating and overseeing the proposed YCEG. The organisation would coordinate with Embolden Bangladesh to advance subsequent activities.
Embolden Bangladesh and In Search of Humanity also discussed jointly building the capacity of youth representatives, conducting community-level awareness activities and reviewing progress on the proposed initiatives.
Faisal Ahmed, programme lead at Embolden Bangladesh, said the initiative aimed to identify local problems and bring them to the attention of the appropriate authorities, improve existing complaint mechanisms and ensure meaningful youth participation in local decision-making.
The organisers expressed hope that coordinated efforts by local youth organisations, the union parishad and other stakeholders would improve communication and build trust between residents and local institutions.
They also expected the initiatives to promote peaceful coexistence and strengthen social cohesion in host communities living near Rohingya refugee camps.
Cox’s Bazar Life Report
Photo: Courtesy
