Munna to represent Bangladesh in COP31
Md. Arifur Rahman Sujan.
Md. Khairul Islam Munnar was born in Hosnabad Union of Betagi Upazila of Barguna. He was a child during Cyclone Sidr in 2007. His family was also affected by that disaster. The impact of the disaster on the lives of the people of the coast, the uncertainty and the struggle to recover are not just a reality seen from afar for him; his own family's experience is also intertwined with it.
That childhood experience and the struggles of coastal people have gradually made him think about the issues of environment and climate change. Why are coastal people repeatedly exposed to disasters? Why is it necessary to take long-term initiatives to protect their lives and livelihoods? And how important are their experiences and demands at the national level?
His journey has not been easy. Starting from a coastal upazila, he has had to move step by step to create his own identity at the national level, organize young people, and create opportunities for work on climate. In this effort of nearly seven years, he has developed his scope of work and leadership experience.
This time, he is going to participate in the international climate conference COP31 with that experience. His goal is to highlight the reality of the coastal people of Bangladesh, the needs of climate adaptation, and the issues of climate justice in the international discussion.
Munna's father, Md. Siddiqur Rahman, is a businessman. His mother, Khadija Akhter Baby, is a housewife. His younger brother, Ariful Islam Manna, is a student. He is also involved in volunteer work and is working on climate change.
Although Munna's journey began with volunteer work, over time he realized that long-term change requires organized initiatives and skilled youth leadership. With that in mind, he founded the Green Peace Youth Development Society (GPYDS). He currently serves as the founder and executive director of the organization.
GPYDS focuses on climate change mitigation, environmental protection, youth leadership development, and the rights of children, adolescents, and women. The initiative, which started in Barguna, is now operating in various districts of Barisal division and Dhaka. More than 1,000 young volunteers are associated with the organization.
In addition to climate and environmental work, they also have initiatives in safe water, adolescent and women's health, prevention of child marriage, and social development.
With this goal in mind, he has been involved in various youth and climate initiatives. In 2026, he is serving as the Communications and Media Lead of LCOY Bangladesh. He is also the President of Volunteers for Bangladesh Barisal Division and a member of Plan International Bangladesh's Youth Advisory Panel and Youth Representative on the Country Management Team.
These experiences have brought him more closely involved with young people's opinions, communication, and climate discussions. At the same time, as a journalism and media studies student, he is also interested in presenting information and field-level experiences on the climate crisis to people in a simple way.
Munna is preparing to participate in the UN Climate Conference COP31 to be held in Turkey in November 2026. The opportunity to participate in this international conference as the first young climate activist from Barguna district is an important step for her to showcase the experiences of the people of the coast on the world stage. She is currently in Istanbul, Turkey to participate in the conference.
At COP31, he will have a particular interest in climate adaptation and loss and damage. He wants to follow the international discussion on the risks to coastal communities, the realities of adaptation at the local level, and the need for effective assistance to affected people.
At the same time, he plans to highlight the needs and experiences of Bangladesh's coastal areas in national-level climate discussions and exchange views with representatives from different countries. He also wants to highlight the stories of the lives, crises, and possibilities of coastal people on an international scale through communication with the media.
To this end, he plans to expand GPYDS' activities, increase youth climate skills, increase the use of media and communication, and build collaborations with various networks working on climate justice.
There are many more challenges ahead in this journey that started from Betagi in Barguna. However, the main motivation for Munna's work is the same: to take the experiences and demands of the people of the coast, which has introduced him to reality, further afield. COP31 is going to be a new chapter in his efforts.
