COAST's ED elected unopposed in NGO Platform Election

COAST Executive Director M. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury has been elected unopposed in the strategic leadership election of the Bangladesh NGO Platform.

The NGO Platform's Annual General Meeting-2026 and Strategic Leadership Election were held yesterday (March 31) at the five-star Ocean Paradise Hotel in Cox's Bazar.

In the election, M. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Executive Director of Coast Foundation and Co-Chair of Cox's Bazar CSO-NGO Forum, was elected unopposed as the national NGO representative to the 'Steering Committee' and 'Rohingya Coordination Committee' run by NGO Platform Cox's Bazar. One person has also been nominated from BRAC to these committees.

The NGO Platform is a collaborative effort of NGOs, run by NGOs and for NGOs. As of February 2026, it has 180 members, including 35 local, 91 national, and 54 international organizations.

The NGO Platform aims to create a platform for NGO members to facilitate and work collectively to address key issues in the Rohingya response.

As national NGO representatives on the Steering Committee and Rohingya Coordination Committee run by the NGO Platform Cox's Bazar, they will uphold the values ​​and principles of the NGO Platform and will also represent it at external meetings.

Their responsibilities also include providing strategic direction and prioritization of the Rohingya response, advising on key policy issues, and assisting in the implementation of the 'Joint Response Plan' through problem-solving and resource mobilization.

They will work closely with the National Task Force, the UN Country Team, the Humanitarian Team, and other stakeholders over the next year to resolve the Rohingya crisis and ensure regular supply of food to the Rohingya in Cox's Bazar.