ULAB GED Students experienced climate adaptation observing the culture of resilience of Manta community through recent field trip to Jorakhal, Bhola
Destination: Jorakhal, Manta/ Bedey Fisherfolk community, Rajapur, Bhola
Conducted by: General Education Department (GED), University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), Supported by CQS ULAB & Lokojog Team
Led by : Ahmed Abidur Razzaque Khan Ph.D. Assistant Professor, course instructor, SSC 2146, Globalization, and lead research of CQS project on Manta
On February 20, 2025, 29 students of SSC 2146/Globalization of Spring 2025 semester at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), led by Dr. Ahmed Abid, went on an educational trip to Jorakhal, Rajapur, Bhola. The team was accompanied by researchers and experts, including Dr. Assaduzzaman, Lucy Gomez and Jakir Hossain to explore the culture of resilence of the Manta / Bede community in response to climate change.
The field trip was done with the assistance of local stake holder organization “ JAGO NARI," which arranged a logistic support to the team and access to the fisherfolk community. Data collection was also made easier by their assistance in the process.
Throughout the journey, the pupils and researchers managed to get in touch with about two dozen families and individuals to really get to know their daily lives, problems and difficulties themselves. The interviews were designed to reveal the health, sanitation, and financial conditions, including the education access being restricted, and the operational time of climate change on their livelihoods.
At the culmination of the field study, a community consultation session was facilitated by Jago Nari, in which 120 families from the Manta community and local inhabitants around Jorakhal came together to explore the possible options for their basic rights, such as education and access to safe drinking water. Jago Nari came up with the consensus of establishing a pre-primary school for Manta children, a solution that allows for the education that is accessible for the children of the community, leaded by Duke Ivn Amin, the Director, Communication and Resource Mobilization, JAGO NARI.
Dr. M. Asaduzzaman, climate change and disaster management expert and researcher of University of Twenty, Gender expert Lucy Tripti Gomes, and Video content designer Jakir Hossain guided students through data collection through surveys and direct observation, so that they could collect information in a well-organized manner. The findings highlight the serious socio-economic difficulties experienced by the Manta community, the impacts of climate change, and the urgent need for accessible policies for all to improve their quality of life.
The field trip ended smoothly on February 22, 2025, when the team got back to Dhaka. The seven student groups, who have been engaged in continuous preparation, are currently finalizing their research work and preparing to give presentations on the knowledge gained during their time in Jorakhal. The field trips data collection were done through a research project of the Centre for Qualitative & Critical Studies (CQS), ULAB that is supported by Ministry of Cultural Affairs (MoCA), and Bangladesh.
