"Sustainable Organization Building, Land Rights, Agrarian Reform, and Climate Resilience

(SOLAR-CR)."

Across Dinajpur and Thakurgaon

 Throughout August 2026, Community Development Association (CDA) sustained its grassroots interventions across 14 Upazilas in Dinajpur and Thakurgaon districts under the initiative "Sustainable Organization Building, Land Rights, Agrarian Reform, and Climate Resilience (SOLAR-CR)." Driven by the mission to advance human rights, gender equity, agrarian reform, and people-centered land governance, CDA’s grassroots Peoples’ Organizations (POs) achieved significant milestones in civil society alliance-building, social safety net inclusion, eco-friendly livelihoods, and rights assertion during the month.

 1)     Grassroots Institution Building, Civic Representation & Strategic Alliances

Grassroots collective leadership and local governance representation witnessed strong expansion in August 2026:

·  Democratic Governance at the Base: Community tiers conducted 894 Para-level Samity Meetings, 245 Executive Committee Meetings, and 130 General Assembly Sessions to reinforce organizational governance.

·     Institutional Expansion & Planning: Facilitated the formation of 21 new primary Samities and supported 23 Peoples' Organizations in finalizing their Annual Action Plans.

·   Staff and Unit Coordination: Held 2 central-level monthly coordination meetings, 33 regional-level weekly staff coordination meetings, 21 Quarterly Unit Management Committee meetings, and 4 Bi-annual Unit Advisory Committee meetings.

· Alliance Building & Environmental Coalitions: Convened the bi-annual coordination meeting of the Upazila Landless Coordination Committee, the bi-annual Union Landless Coordination Committee meeting, and quarterly coordination committee meetings for both WOMEN_NET (Women Organizations For Movement and Empowerment Network in Northern Ecological Territory) and PLA_NET (People Land and Agrarian Reform Northern Ecological Territory).

· Civic Inclusion in Local Government: To elevate marginalized voices in decision-making spaces, grassroots leaders from the Union Landless Coordination Committee were inducted into 3 Union Development Committees. Notably, on August 16, 2026, in No. 16 Nargun Union (Thakurgaon Sadar), Nazma Begum (Joba Women Samity, Uttar Bochapukur PO) along with Abdur Rahman and Md. Nazrul Islam (Shuvo Men Samity, Purba Nargun PO) were officially inducted into the Union Standing Committee on Finance and Establishment.

 2.)    Land Rights, Agrarian Entitlements & Public Administration Engagement

Marginalized and landless families continued asserting their lawful claims to public fallow (Khas) land and administrative transparency:

·   Securing Khas Land Settlements: A total of 34 landless households filed formal applications for agricultural and homestead Khas land settlements during August, with 6 individuals gaining physical access to assigned land/waterbodies. In Golapganj Unit (Birganj Upazila), 30 landless households of Rangalipara PO submitted settlement applications for 1.19 acres of agricultural Khas land, while 13 households of Muraripur PO filed for 1.33 acres of homestead Khas land at the Upazila Land Office. In Pranongor Unit (Birganj Upazila), 26 landless households under Dograi PO formally applied for the permanent settlement of 0.80 acres of reclaimed agricultural Khas land.

·  Issue-based Advocacy & Memorandums Submission: Grassroots federations submitted 06 issue-based memorandums to relevant duty-bearers to address urgent community rights and agrarian priorities.

·  Transparency through RTI: Under the Right to Information (RTI) campaign in the Birol-Bochaganj region, grassroots organizations have formally submitted 131 applications seeking official Khas land records, successfully resolving 62 applications with the designated authorities.

 3.)    Indigenous Rights & Observance of International Day of the World’s Indigenous

Peoples Indigenous solidarity and rights advocacy took center stage throughout the working areas in August 2026:

·     Commemoration & National Charter of Demands: On August 9, 2026, International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples was observed across Dinajpur and Thakurgaon through massive rallies, cultural gatherings, and civic forums organized by the Upazila Landless Coordination Committee with CDA’s direct facilitation.

·     Submission of 08-Point Memorandum: Grassroots indigenous leaders and PO representatives handed over a memorandum containing an 8-point charter of demands addressed to the Honorable Prime Minister via local Upazila administrations.

·     Grassroots Support: Facilitated 15 decentralized community observances across target regions.

·     Advancing Education Access: In Bhabarbazar Unit (Parbatipur-Fulbari region), stipend allocations were secured for 3 indigenous students, safeguarding their educational continuity.

 4.)    Climate Resilience, Agro-Ecology & Clean Energy Initiatives

CDA’s initiatives prioritized environmental sustainability, regenerative agro-practices, and clean energy alternatives:

·  Large-Scale Afforestation Campaign: Distributed 35,000 fruit-bearing and medicinal saplings across Dinajpur and Thakurgaon in collaboration with local public administration, community leaders, journalists, teachers, and civil society, bringing total afforestation coverage to 367.42 acres.In Goriya Unit (Birganj-Kaharol region), Member of Parliament for Dinajpur-1, Md. Monjurul Islam, graced the seedling distribution drive at Nizpara PO as chief guest, where indigenous cultural troupes welcomed him with traditional community instruments.

·     Promotion of Organic Agriculture: 100 households actively practiced organic agriculture and engaged in eco-friendly fertilizer production using heap, pit, and vermicompost techniques.

·     Regional Leadership in Organic Inputs: Md. Rashed Ali, Treasurer of Chokmusha PO (Shantirbazar Unit) and a leading vermicompost producer, participated in an exchange dialogue with the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Rangpur on August 6, 2026, where he was elected General Secretary of the Divisional Organic Fertilizer Entrepreneurs Association.

·     Enterprise Incubation: In Halja Unit, 19 PO members participated in a workshop on vermicompost production and market development, establishing commercial organic units with 38 concrete rings and 10 kg of earthworms.

·     Native Seed Preservation: 16 women leaders systematically preserved indigenous, climate-tolerant seeds to protect agrarian biodiversity and local food sovereignty.

·     Clean Energy Adoption: In Jabarhat Unit (Bairchuna Union, Pirganj Upazila), 72 landless households across Jagannathpur and Khekidanga villages transitioned to clean energy by adopting domestic solar panels in place of grid electricity.

 5.)    Women's Economic Empowerment & Social Protection

Fostering self-reliance among women members through diversified micro-enterprises and institutional Women's Economic Empowerment & Social Protection safety nets remained a major highlight:

·     Micro-Enterprise Incubation: Facilitated 34 income-generating projects (IGAs) for grassroots members alongside assisting 10 marginalized families in accessing government safety net provisions.

·    Transformative Grassroots Success Stories: Shamima Begum (Joba Women Samity, Shekhati PO, Dinajpur Sadar) utilized targeted micro-project support from CDA; Shamima launched a small tailoring and fabric retailing venture. Driven by strategic customer service and planning, her enterprise expanded significantly, turning her into a well-known community entrepreneur and primary household earner. Bharati Rani (Rangan PO, Halja Unit, Birol) successfully reared project-supported cattle through the People’s Development Initiative, generating sustainable profits, and has reinvested into second-phase livestock rearing.

6.)    Development Communications & Advocacy Publications

·         Jonochesta: Published and disseminated 26,000 copies (across two regular bi-weekly editions) to communicate community rights and developmental messages.

·         Campaign Advocacy Materials: Published and disseminated 1,900 advocacy posters of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, 26 comprehensive flipcharts on gender equality and non-discrimination, and 68 thematic advocacy publications to support institutional campaigns.

 Key Performance Highlights at a Glance (August 2026)

·     Grassroots Samity Meetings Facilitated: 894

·     Executive & General Body Meetings Held: 375

·     Tree Saplings Distributed: 35,000 (Total area covered: 367.42 acres)

·     Organic Fertilizer & Agro-Ecology Practicing Families: 100

·     Clean Energy Transition (Solar Panels): 72 Landless Households

·     Khas Land Settlement Petitions Processed: 34 Families

·     Development Newspaper & Campaign IEC Materials Distributed: 27,994 Copies

Conclusion:

The transformative achievements of August 2026 highlight CDA’s relentless dedication to empowering marginalized communities across Dinajpur and Thakurgaon. By advancing land governance, bridging civic partnerships, promoting agro-ecological resilience, and fostering women’s economic independence, CDA and its Peoples’ Organizations continue to turn rights into realities and build a just, climate-resilient future.