‘Dokkhina Sundari’ – a local story of climate emergency in Bangladesh.

This chapter critically explores the climate emergency in Bangladesh and examines the important dual role that the creative arts can play in firstly, raising awareness of wider geo-political issues of social justice and equity, and secondly, voice dissent against power structures, corporatized globalization and government. Bangladesh is one of the world’s poorest and most densely populated countries, and the topography, geography, rapid urbanization, and the experience of consistent widespread flooding, human displacement and extreme weather means that Bangladesh remains at the centre of all discourse related to climate change, climate justice and climate emergency. With a focus on the 2014 theatre production of ‘Dokkhina Sundari’ which raises a critical voice against the decision to build the coal-based thermal Rampal Power Station very close to the ‘green wall’ of the Sundarbans in southern Bangladesh, this chapter takes the form of an in-depth conversation with the director of the play – Sudip Chakroborthy. The ultimate message of ‘Dokkhina Sundari’ is a significant one – that all life is precious (humans, animals, plants, habitat) and that we all have a moral and ethical duty to preserve and protect this.