The 3rd Coastal Water Convention 2026 concluded today in Khulna, bringing together policymakers, researchers, civil society organizations, and development practitioners to address critical coastal and water-related challenges in Bangladesh. The three-day convention ended with a closing session at the CSS Ava Centre.
On the final day, five thematic sessions were held, followed by a closing plenary where the draft 12-point Khulna Declaration was formally presented. The declaration was read out by Mr. Shamim Arfeen, Member Secretary of the Convention Committee and Executive Director of AOSED.
The Khulna Declaration emphasizes water justice, climate resilience, ecosystem protection, and inclusive governance, reflecting key recommendations and shared priorities emerging from the convention discussions.
The closing plenary was moderated by Prof. Dr. Kazi Maruful Islam of the University of Dhaka. Summaries of the thematic sessions were presented by Abu Hana Mostafa Jamal of Coastal Voice of Bangladesh, Mohammad Zobair Hasan of DORP, Md. Zahidur Rahman, WASH Expert, and Dr. Tusar Kanti Roy of KUET, highlighting research findings, community perspectives, policy gaps, and practical solutions.
Supplementary opinions on the draft declaration were shared by Mr. Mohon Kumar Mondal, Executive Director of LEDARS; Tamanna Rahman, Thematic Lead for Climate and Resilience at Practical Action Bangladesh; Roufa Khanum, Assistant Director at C3ER, BRAC University; Mohammad Zobair Hasan, Deputy Executive Director of DORP; and Mr. Saqib Huq, Managing Director of ICCCAD. Speakers stressed the importance of translating the declaration into concrete actions and strengthening multi-stakeholder collaboration.
Delivering the closing message, Mr. Khairul Islam, Regional Director for South Asia at WaterAid, emphasized the need to sustain momentum through this advocacy platform and to develop an effective roadmap toward the Bangladesh Water Convention 2028.
With the presentation of the Khulna Declaration, the convention concluded with a renewed call for coordinated, equitable, and sustainable action to address coastal water challenges and strengthen resilience in Bangladesh’s coastal communities.
