Make our voice heart in Antalya COP31

COP31, Turkiye, Antalia official website image

We, being in the frontline of climate change and our people paying a heavy price despite having an insignificant contribution to carbon emissions, our delegations - both governmental and nongovernmental - should be louder than ever before in Turkiye, Antalya COP31 to get our voice heard.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shama Obaed Islam has said Bangladesh will be in Antalya with the demand for climate justice and natural fibre jute which is a biodegradable alternative to plastics and synthetic packaging material to protect land, rivers and seas from degradation. We welcome this.

We need also to speak of the threat posed by the diversion of all common rivers. International law, conventions and treaties are supportive of our demand for sustainable management of 54 common rivers that formed Bangladesh and sustain the land. Without their services Bangladesh cannot survive. Antalya will be a good forum to narrate our plight. Under the  international law all rivers must flow to the sea and should be under integrated basinwide management. 

We hope our delegations will be well prepared to perform these tasks.