In a grassroots initiative to reimagine urban development through the eyes of young people, two local organizations concluded the 13th session of their citywide workshop series on September 9, 2025, at the Government Daulatpur Muhsin Secondary School auditorium.
The two-day workshop (September 8-9), titled “The Khulna City We Want to Grow Up In,” brought together students and community members to identify concrete solutions for creating a more child and youth-friendly urban environment.
Organized jointly by the Social and Environmental Increasing Analysis Movement (SEAM) and Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust, the series aims to cover all 31 wards of Khulna city through 16 separate workshops. The initiative’s unique approach places children and local residents at the center of urban planning discussions, asking them to identify short, medium, and long-term interventions needed to transform their city.
Community Voices Shape Urban Future
The 13th session, moderated and conducted by WBB Trust Project Officer Md. Mithun, featured presentations from several key stakeholders. Among the speakers were Shahidul Islam, M.A., M.Ed., Principal of Government Daulatpur Muhsin Secondary School; Tajia Khanam and Jahid Hasan, Assistant Teachers from local girls’ schools; Sumaiya Rahman, Project Officer at SERAC Bangladesh; Syeda Ananya Rahman, Head of Health Rights Department at WBB Trust; and Advocate Masum Billah, Executive Director of SEAM.
University students from Khulna University’s Department of Architecture and WBB Trust officials served as facilitators, guiding participants through interactive sessions designed to capture their visions and concerns.
The workshop drew participation from 20 students from Government Daulatpur Muhsin Secondary School and Daulatpur Secondary Girls’ School, alongside 20 community residents from Ward Nos. 3 and 5.
Bottom-Up Approach to Urban Development
This participatory approach represents a shift from traditional top-down urban planning, instead empowering young residents to articulate their needs and aspirations for their city’s future. By systematically engaging communities across all wards, the organizations aim to create a comprehensive, citizen-informed roadmap for making Khulna more livable for its youngest residents.
The remaining workshop sessions are expected to continue across other wards in the coming weeks, building toward a citywide vision shaped by those who will inherit Khulna’s urban landscape.
