From 14 to 17 April 2026, the Annual Congress of Early Child Care Forum was held in Kuala Lumpur, bringing together global stakeholders in early childhood development. Ms. Rabeya Begum, Executive Director of Shariatpur Development Society (SDS), participated in the congress and delivered a keynote presentation.
In her presentation, she highlighted the realities of the education system in the charlands of Shariatpur district, which is increasingly affected by climate change vulnerabilities—particularly riverbank erosion and forced displacement. Communities in these areas face continuous uncertainty due to loss of homes and relocation, which directly impacts children’s access to education.
The presentation was co-delivered by Manjusree Mitra, National Volunteer of Bangladesh at the World Forum Foundation.
Ms. Rabeya Begum also participated in a panel discussion, where she shared field-based evidence on how erosion and displacement extend beyond immediate impacts and contribute to long-term challenges such as increased school dropout rates, rising child labour, and higher incidence of child marriage. These issues directly hinder early childhood development (ECD) and education, particularly for girls.
The intersection of climate change and early childhood development (ECD) in the charlands of Shariatpur remains a critical yet often overlooked issue. SDS’s participation and evidence-based presentation at this international platform are expected to contribute to raising global awareness about the challenges faced by char communities.
