Civil society demands urgent healthcare sction for char land communities
Civil society leaders have called for immediate and targeted action to ensure basic healthcare services for country’s remote char communities, warning that millions are being left behind amid a growing “double crisis” of climate vulnerability and limited medical access.
The concerns were raised at a press conference titled “Basic Healthcare: A Neglected Reality in Char Areas,” held at the National Press Club in Dhaka and organized by COAST Foundation, EquityBD, and the BDCSO Process.
Speakers said nearly 10 million people living in char areas remain deprived of even primary healthcare, with the situation worsening during natural disasters when communication breakdowns cut off access to essential services. They stressed that without real improvements on the ground, development in these regions would remain “merely statistical.”
M. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Executive Director of COAST Foundation, described healthcare as a fundamental right rather than a privilege. He highlighted the urgent need to expand telemedicine services through improved 4G connectivity, allowing char residents to consult qualified doctors remotely. He also pointed to the high risks facing maternal and child health, calling for safe maternity care centers and better-trained midwives.
Other speakers emphasized practical solutions to bridge the healthcare gap. These included establishing community clinics in char areas, deploying mobile medical teams, and introducing boat ambulances and floating clinics to reach isolated populations.
Mustafa Kamal Akand, Coordinator of the BDCSO Process, said achieving the Sustainable Development Goals would be impossible without addressing healthcare disparities in char regions. He urged the government to treat the issue as a national priority and allocate at least 40 percent of the health budget to primary care.
M. A. Hasan of COAST Foundation highlighted several char areas in Patuakhali and Bhola where large populations lack even minimal health services. He proposed creating a dedicated “Char Health Sector” in the national budget to ensure targeted funding, arguing that treating char regions under general rural allocations has led to persistent neglect.
Syed Ashraf Hossain of the Society for Development Initiatives underscored the human cost of inaction. He noted that residents often have to travel long distances to access basic treatment, while pregnant women face life-threatening risks due to the absence of emergency transport and prenatal care. He called for the introduction of water ambulances and dedicated emergency systems to address these gaps.
Speakers concluded that ensuring healthcare access in char areas is not just a development goal but a matter of justice, urging policymakers to take decisive steps to reach some of the country’s most vulnerable communities.
