Speakers at a meeting on Sunday called for a concerted effort by both government and non government organisations to ensure cohesion and peace across society for the overall development of the country.
Highlighting the importance of building an inclusive society, they said all social actors and influential leaders should come forward and work together to achieve this shared goal.
Government officials and other stakeholders made the remarks while addressing a district-level consultation between civil society organisations (CSOs) and the government administration in Rajshahi.
The meeting was organised by the Social Cohesion Network (SCN) at the conference hall of the Deputy Commissioner’s office with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and RUPANTAR.
Deputy Commissioner Afia Akhter presided over the meeting, while UNDP Senior Governance Specialist Sheela Tasneem Haq delivered the welcome address.
Among others, District Legal Aid Officer Shariful Islam Khan, Additional Deputy Commissioner Tuktuk Talukder, Additional Superintendent of Police Sabina Yeasmin, Executive Director of Anagrasar Samaj Unnayan Sangstha Raj Kumar Shawn, and Executive Director of Barendra Unnayan Prochesta Foyzullah Chowdhury also spoke.
RUPANTAR Director Shahadat Hossain Bacchu presented an overview of their project titled ‘Strengthening the Capacity of Civil Society Organizations to Promote Social Cohesion and Peacebuilding Efforts in Communities’.
He said the Social Cohesion Network has been designed to foster trust, solidarity, and inclusion within communities. Such networks aim to create a ‘social glue’ that reduces marginalisation and strengthens resilience against external shocks such as conflicts or disasters.
Shahadat Hossain added that the project aims to enhance the capacity of local actors to promote peace, trust, and resilience. It also seeks to build a sustainable foundation for peace and social cohesion by empowering local CSOs, community groups, and volunteer networks to proactively manage conflicts and strengthen community resilience.
In her remarks, Deputy Commissioner Afia Akhter stressed the need to strengthen the capacity of CSOs so they can advocate for social cohesion, influence local policies, and promote human rights while ensuring that citizens’ voices are reflected in decision-making processes.
She also emphasised the importance of increasing the active participation of women, youth, and vulnerable groups in peacebuilding, social cohesion, and community resilience initiatives.
“There is no alternative to facilitating and strengthening local-level mechanisms for dialogue, trust-building, and confidence-building, particularly across conflict divides,” she added.