Speakers for coastal dev. board to deal with climate impacts

Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Md. Shahab Uddin said that the government was working to protect the Sundarbans and the coastal areas from the harmful effects of climate change.

He said, various projects including protection of the world heritage Sundarbans, construction of sustainable embankments and harvesting rainwater have been taken to reduce the risk of disasters. At the same time, he said, effective initiatives have also been taken to realize climate compensation from the rich countries.

The minister was speaking at the chief guest at a national dialogue on impacts of climate change in southwestern coastal areas of the country held at Parliament Members' Club at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Wednesday.

Deputy Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Habibun Nahar, Mir Mostaque Ahmed Robi, MP, Syeda Rubina Akhter, MP and general secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon Sharif Jamil addressed the dialogue as special guests.

LEDARS- Local Environment Development and Agricultural Research Society, a non-government organisation and  Sundarbans and Coastal Area Protection Movement jointly organised the dialogue a day after devastating cyclone Sitrang hit the country leaving dozens of people killed.

Moderated by coordinator of the Sundarbans and Coastal Area Protection Movement, journalist Nikhil Chandra Bhadra, LEDARS executive director Mohon Kumar Mondal made the keynote presentation in the dialogue.

Rafiqul Islam Azad, former president of Dhaka Reporters Unity, Matilda Tina Baidya of KARK In Aktri, Ahsan Wahid of Manusher Jonne Foundation, Moniruzzaman Mukul of SCAN Bangladesh, Sheikh Abdul Alim of CCDB, Mahbub-Ul-Hasan of Oxfam, Shahiduzzaman Pulak of Swiss Contact, Moshi Mondal of World Concern, Nripen Boidya of Faith In Action, Anisur Rahim, Md Noor Alam Sheikh, Madhobi Rani Mondal and Azadul Haque, among others, also spoke on the occasion.

In his speech, the environment minister said, the risk of coastal areas including Sundarbans due to climate change has been determined. The government has already taken a national adaptation plan, he added.

He mentioned that various schemes have been taken up to address the risks due to climate change. Monitoring has been strengthened to ensure transparency and accountability of project implementation in the coastal areas.

“A specific action plan has been taken to develop the tourism industry around the Sundarbans,” he added.

He urged the government as well as non-governmental organizations to work to raise awareness on all these issues.

Environment Deputy Minister Habibun Nahar called for taking cautionary measures in accepting projects to deal with the risk of climate change.

She said although the government has taken various projects in the past but those are not able to play a role in dealing with the crisis in public life. Therefore, she added, the project should be adopted based on the opinion of the affected people as needed.

Mir Mostaque Ahmed Robi raised allegations of manipulation in accepting government projects. He said that even though various projects have been taken to dig the river and solve the waterlogging, they are not being implemented properly.

Syeda Rubina Akhter put emphasise on the need to form a separate board for the development of the coastal region.

Sharif Jamil said that the environment and nature must be understood scientifically to prevent human disasters in the coastal areas.

“A sustainable, integrated and multi-term project should be formulated and implemented with the involvement of local people,” he added.

In his keynote paper, LEDARS executive director Mohon Kumar Mondal recommended for increasing social security programmes (especially cash and food assistance programs) in coastal upazilas under Khulna, Satkhira and Bagerhat districts, taking into account climate risk, poverty and vulnerability.

He also recommended for taking one house-one shelter centre pattern project in the coastal belts and renovating exiting cyclone shelters in the area making them women and children friendly.

The other speakers put emphasize on the need to form Coastal Development Board to ensure inter-ministerial coordination in order to protect people from storm-floods, river erosion and land erosion, and taking measures for tree plantation and to protect the Sundarbans.