Pre-budget Discussion
'Take steps to improve condition of coastal people'
Our Correspondent, Chittagong
Speakers at a discussion yesterday called on the caretaker government to include effective proposal and planning in the upcoming budget to improve the condition of the people living in the vast coastal region, known as 'the most vulnerable zone of the country'.Around three and a half crore people living along 710 km coastal belt are now at great risk due to endangered environment, they said and emphasised the need for a long-term strategic planning to protect the vast prospective zone. The Community Development Centre (CODEC) organised the discussion titled 'Pre-Budget discussion: Life and livelihood of coastal people of Bangladesh' at the auditorium of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industries in the port city. Economist Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman moderated the meeting attended by economist Dr Atiur Rahman, social scientist Dr Anupam Sen, resident editor of the Prothom Alo Abul Momen and executive director of Rupantar Swapan Guha as panel discussants. Presenting the keynote paper, CODEC Executive Director Dr Khurshid Alam human activity causing damage to environment and natural disasters have put the people in coastal areas at risk. Fishermen are now in vulnerable condition as they become jobless in seven months (November to May) of a year due to a ban on netting jatka (young Hilsa), he said. Dr Zillur said the coastal zone and its people, especially the fishermen, are always neglected in the budgets as well as in other strategic policies such as Poverty Reduction Strategic Paper (PRSP). Dr Atiur Rahman suggested making coordinated efforts by the government, local government institutions and NGOs to help the poorest people of the remote areas. Prof Dr Hossain Kabir, Dr Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury, Bangladesh Institute of Theatre Arts Executive Director Shishir Dutta, Irfanul Haque of Uddipan and Sitakunda Union Parishad Chairman Abul Kalam Azad also spoke.
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