By Iffat Ara Sharmeen,
29 October, 2026
Friendship’s char theatre actors and
singers showcased life on the northern riverine islands of Bangladesh with
magical, artistic performances at Kollolini: A River Dialogue 2026.
Bangladesh’s major river systems face unprecedented environmental stress from pollution, poor wastewater management, agricultural runoff, and rapid urbanisation. As a
result, water quality and ecosystems are degrading right in front of our eyes.
Policies exist; efforts are underway, and yet coordinated implementation
remains difficult. At Kollolini:
A River Dialogue 2026, civil society, researchers, development
organisations, the private sector, global investors, riverine communities, and government officials came together to link policy bottlenecks to on-the-ground conditions.
Convened by the Team
Europe Initiative on Climate and Energy in Bangladesh, the Kollolini dialogue
aimed to build a shared understanding of the current challenges in the river
systems, using cultural depictions of emotional and social connections of people
with rivers to inspire action, and establishing a platform for continued
dialogue and monitoring of rivers in line with the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100, the
Bangladesh Water Act 2013, and the Meghna River Master Plan 2024.
When Riverine Communities Share Their
Voice
As part of the Kollolini conference
on 24 Septemeber 2026 at Aloki, Friendship
brought the voices and lived experiences of Bangladesh’s vulnerable char
communities into a wider dialogue on rivers, climate, and environmental
challenges. Friendship presented an artistic Char Theatre performance titled Our
River, a theatre and folk music performance inspired by the lives of
river-dependent communities along the Brahmaputra. Through a creative and participatory
approach, the performance portrayed the close relationship between rivers and
the communities whose homes, livelihoods, and everyday lives depend on them.
The performances highlighted the challenges faced by char communities,
including changing river flows, drying rivers, floods, riverbank erosion,
climate-related disasters, pollution and unsafe water, while also reflecting
the need for climate adaptation and community resilience. Rather than
presenting them only as environmental concerns, Our River brought them
to life through stories and experiences of people living closest to the river.T
his approach allowed Friendship to transform real-life community experiences into accessible stories that encourage awareness, reflection, and dialogue. Participating in Kollolini provided an opportunity to share these community perspectives with a diverse audience of policymakers, development partners, environmental experts, civil society representatives, youth and other stakeholders, while connecting local realities with the broader conversation on the future of Bangladesh’s rivers. The performance shed light on collective action, community responsibility, and climate adaptation and their vital role in protecting rivers and sustaining river-dependent livelihoods.
The Kollolini recommendations called for stronger leadership, clearer institutional responsibilities, and better enforcement of river-protection laws and policies. Stakeholders emphasised turning existing plans into measurable results by addressing gaps in coordination, capacity, financing, data, technical expertise, and long-term maintenance. They also called for a shared river agenda bringing together government, development partners, academia, civil society, communities, the private sector and youth, with river-dependent communities and young people central to decision-making. Lastly, they proposed an ongoing platform for communication, regular monitoring, and sustained dialogue to track progress and ensure commitments lead to tangible action.