Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD)

Research and investigative reporting

SEHD’s research and investigative reporting is aimed at exploring complex human rights issues and their relationship with environmental problems. SEHD’s work has highlighted the problems faced by indigenous people in Bangladesh, sex workers and tea plantation workers. SEHD’s research also addresses the environmental problems associated with commercial and industrial plantations and forestry, energy issues, coastal erosion and climate change.

Journalist training

SEHD provides training to journalists from newspapers, magazines, radio and television as well as individuals representing different ethnic communities, civil society organizations, and activists. Through training and public events, SEHD helps develop skills, knowledge and ideas thus inspiring advocacy and awareness raising about important issues within the broader community.

Promotion of Adivasi culture

SEHD, for many years, has organized cultural exchange programs and festivals for the Adivasi (indigenous) communities across Bangladesh, providing them with the opportunity to interact with other communities. SEHD also publishes books and organizes seminars to advocate for the rights of Adivasi people. Through different means SEHD continues to promote cultures of the indigenous and marginalized communities.

Seminars, cultural programs, and other public events

SEHD also regularly organizes seminars, roundtable conferences, film festivals, Adivasi cultural festivals, photography exhibitions, study tours, and other public events. Issues and concerns of community and national interest that have been voiced through SEHD events include the exploitation of forests and forest people, the problems associated with commercial plantations, the devastating effects of aid and loans on Bangladesh’s environment, Adivasi issues in Bangladesh, and problems facing other excluded groups.

Advocacy

SEHD is involved in direct and indirect lobbying and advocacy at different levels. SEHD also targets the general public of Bangladesh and those communities that are the victims of wrong policies. In the past, SEHD has conducted effective advocacy work to raise awareness and understanding of the problems associated with the plantation economy and its effects on local communities and ecologies, indigenous peoples’ access to local resources, shrimp aquaculture, ecological farming, threat of coal mining, the rights of tea plantation workers, sex workers as well as climate change issues.

Promotion of organic farming

In 2009, SEHD set up an organic farm in Rajghati, a small indigenous Garo village in the Modhupur sal forest in Tangail District (in the North-central region of Bangladesh). SEHD has been working closely with villagers to introduce and encourage organic farming techniques. SEHD has also been establishing a knowledge and learning center among the local communities in the Modhupur sal forest area that teaches about organic farming practices, natural history, indigenous culture, ecology and innovative ideas.