A strong spirit of civic participation was evident across Sunamganj as citizen groups in Bishwamberpur, Tahirpur, Dowarabazar and Sunamganj Sadar held their third quarterly meetings, bringing together local residents, volunteers and community representatives to reflect on progress, discuss pressing local concerns and reinforce public participation in local governance. The meetings marked an important step in strengthening dialogue between communities and authorities, while also creating space for citizens to speak openly about the challenges affecting their daily lives.
Nagorikata: Civic Engagement Fund (CEF)’s programme titled “Achieving a Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Society through Enhanced Engagement of Civil Society and Citizens in Bangladesh”, is designed to empower marginalised communities, including women, youth and ethnic minorities, by enabling them to participate more effectively in local decision-making processes. The programme places particular emphasis on citizen mobilisation, social audits and constructive engagement with local authorities to improve public service delivery and accountability. The Nagorikata Programme is jointly supported by the Embassy of Switzerland, Global Affairs Canada (GAC), and the European Union facilitated by GFA Consulting Group, and implemented by CPD.
This marked the third round of quarterly meetings organised by CPD under the project. As part of this round, 16 meetings were held with Citizen Groups across Bogura, Sherpur, Sunamganj and Noakhali, focusing on selected upazilas where socio-economic vulnerabilities and governance challenges were more pronounced.
The Sunamganj meetings were organised under the local implementation of Efforts for Rural Advancement (ERA) and served as an important forum for reviewing earlier decisions, discussing lessons from social audits and preparing for further engagement with local administration. Participants shared their experiences, assessed community-level progress and reflected on how organised citizen action had helped bring local issues into wider public attention.
Across the four upazilas, people raised a number of everyday concerns that continued to affect their communities. These included poor road conditions, limited access to safe drinking water, gaps in health services, environmental cleanliness, and the need for stronger safety and protection for women and children. The discussions showed that citizens were not only aware of these problems, but were also increasingly prepared to work together and engage local authorities in pursuit of solutions.
The meetings also highlighted the growing confidence of women, young people and marginalised groups in public participation. Their presence and contribution added energy to the discussions and reflected the wider purpose of the programme, which sought to ensure that those often excluded from decision-making had a stronger voice in shaping local priorities. Participants also reflected on democratic participation and community awareness, noting encouraging signs of greater public engagement.
Another major focus of the meetings was the role of social audits in promoting accountability and better service delivery. Participants discussed how these processes had helped communities identify service gaps, raise concerns in an organised way and encourage more constructive interaction with duty-bearers. The emphasis remained on cooperation and problem-solving, with citizens seeking not confrontation, but a more transparent and responsive relationship with local institutions.
Although a few practical challenges were noted, including delayed attendance and the absence of some members during the Ramadan period, the meetings were widely seen as productive and meaningful. They demonstrated that regular community forums could help sustain momentum, improve coordination and deepen the culture of participation at the grassroots level.
Taken together, the four quarterly meetings in Bishwamberpur, Tahirpur, Dowarabazar and Sunamganj Sadar presented a compelling picture of grassroots civic engagement in Sunamganj. They showed that when citizens were given the space and support to come together, they were able to raise their concerns with clarity, engage more confidently with governance processes and contribute to building a more inclusive, accountable and participatory local society.
