Citizen Groups (CGs) under the Nagorikata: Civic Engagement Fund (CEF) programme have continued their quarterly meetings in Sherpur, providing a regular platform for citizens to review progress, discuss social audit findings, identify challenges in accessing public services and determine follow-up actions at the local level.
Nagorikata’s programme titled “Achieving a Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Society through Enhanced Engagement of Civil Society and Citizens in Bangladesh” seeks to strengthen citizen participation and promote more inclusive and accountable local governance. The programme particularly engages marginalised communities and supports their interaction with public institutions and service providers.
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.
In Sherpur, the quarterly meetings focused on following up on decisions from previous meetings, reviewing social audit findings and recommendations, documenting Most Significant Change (MSC) stories, and discussing tree plantation activities. Citizen Group members also reviewed their engagement with local authorities and service providers and discussed ways to strengthen community participation.
The meetings reflected a growing role of Citizen Groups in connecting marginalised communities with public services. Citizen Group members reported supporting access to social protection, agricultural support, healthcare and education-related assistance. One reported case involved Citizen Group engagement that contributed to preventing the child marriage of a Dalit student and supporting her continuation of education.
Several concrete outcomes were also reported. Fifty-six people from different indigenous communities received two goats each through the livestock office, while more than 200 beneficiaries submitted information for social safety net and other government services with support from Citizen Group members. In addition, 14 Citizen Group members and marginalised people received BDT 2,000 each from the Social Welfare Office, 20 marginalised farmers received agricultural inputs, and 15 participants received agricultural organiser training.
Citizen Group members also continued awareness activities on child marriage and drug abuse and supported marginalised communities in accessing healthcare and social protection. In another reported instance, 10 marginalised people received widow and old-age allowances and more than 100 people received VGD and VGF cards with assistance from Citizen Group members.
The meetings also reviewed tree plantation activities, with emphasis on proper fencing, watering, maintenance and monitoring of distributed saplings. Participants highlighted the importance of continued community involvement to ensure the sustainability of the plantation initiative.
Through these quarterly meetings, Citizen Groups in Sherpur are strengthening communication with public institutions, following up on service delivery concerns and creating a structured mechanism for community-level engagement, accountability and collective action.
