By Masum Billah, Baku (Azerbaijan), 14, November
South Asian Climate Change Journalist Forum (SACCJF), a professional body of South Asian Region-based reporters covering Climate Change issues, has formed a new committee for 2025-26.
Indian Senior Journalist Ashis Gupta and Karamot Ullah Biplob of Bangladeshi Senior Journalist have been made president and general secretary respectively.
The new committee chair was elected after the biennial general meeting at the bilateral meeting room of the COP-29 conference in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, on Thursday.
Assadujjaman samrat (Bangladesh) was elected Executive President, Mohammad Rab Newaz Chowdhury (Pakistan), Sriram Subedi (Nepal) and Mahindra Pathirana (Sri Lanka) were elected as Vice Presidents.
Rinjin Wangchuk (Bhutan) was elected as Assistant General Secretary, and Masum Billah (Bangladesh) was elected as Treasurer.
Other elected members of the executive committee are CK Nayek (India), Akhanda Bhandari (Nepal), Kulum Bhandara (Sri Lanka), Sunit Kumar Bhuiyan (India), Imran U Chowdhury (Pakistan), Bishmraj Ojha (Nepal), Faiza Gilani (Pakistan) and Kuntak Chatterjee (India) and Habibur Rahman (Bangladesh).
The recent gathering of climate journalists in Dhaka has marked a significant step forward in the region’s commitment to addressing the climate crisis. The event, which saw the participation of executive committee members from countries including India, Nepal, and Bangladesh, focused on amplifying the demands and expectations of South Asian countries in the global climate dialogue.
During the conference, Ashish Gupta, the organization’s second-elected president, announced an ambitious initiative for 2025. He stated that the organization’s executive leaders will embark on a regional tour, visiting various countries to raise public awareness and foster stronger climate advocacy through journalism. This initiative aims to broaden the scope of climate journalism, highlighting the role of media in shaping public opinion and influencing climate policy.
Keramat Ullah Biplob, the newly elected general secretary, also shared exciting developments. He revealed that discussions have already taken place with the prime ministers of Pakistan and Bhutan about organizing a regional conference focused on climate protection. This conference, which will take place in either Pakistan or Bhutan, is expected to bring together journalists and policymakers to collaborate on pressing climate issues in South Asia.
The organization’s headquarters in Dhaka and its country chapters across the region are central to this growing effort to build a united voice for climate action in South Asia. The collaboration among journalists from diverse nations in the region underscores the shared challenges and urgency of addressing climate change, as well as the need for a cohesive, informed media presence to push for meaningful change at both local and global levels.
This developing network of climate journalists in South Asia is poised to play a key role in driving forward the regional climate agenda, ensuring that South Asia’s concerns and solutions are front and center in the global climate conversation.
