He was advocating the creative approach that some organisations had taken to educate the water-bound gypsies at the formal launching ceremony of 'Haor Initiatives for Sustainable Alternative Livelihoods' (Hisal) at the LGED auditorium in the city.

The adviser said, "It was not possible to bring their children to schools, so some organisations should take schools to them."

"We must not disturb the natural topography and its unparallel lifestyle and feature. The signal of climate change is now very loud and clear...if the sea level rises by only 4 percent, 17 coastal districts would be inundated and this would bring out drastic changes in the social dynamics," said Adviser Karim while replying to some issues raised during the discussion.

Terming 'haor' the missing link in development process, he insisted on the bottom-up approach in decision-making process.

''Let them calculate their own option for development and prior to giving them any option we should be very careful of the technology that we are adopting," he added.

He stressed on ensuring market facilities for the products the haor inhabitants will grow under this project so that they are not given throw-away price, adding that it is not possible to implement the land rights and fishing rights.

However, he assured all-out assistance from his ministry and said, "One cannot afford to forget seven percent of the whole population, we must find out strategy for them."

Syed Ataur Rahman, secretary to the ministry of fisheries and livestock, laid emphasis on revolving fund for the people in flood plains which would assist them even after the end of the project.

Hossain Zillur Rahman, executive chairman of Power and Participatory Research Centre (PPRC), said Bangladesh has gained a lot in the broad-based poverty front, the next steps should be for specific region including char, haor and coastal zones.

A representative from Itna haor area of Kishoreganj district Supriti Rani Ghosh and Mithamoin upazila Chairman Asia Begum depicted their fragile existence in flood plains that frequently face erosion.

They said people have lived here for generations building their houses on large earthen mounds that remain above flood levels. When water enters Bangladesh from the hills of India, forming huge island seas and causing flood that last for up to seven months of every year, people's access to basic needs drastically shrink.

They struggle with food insecurity, lack of education and health facility.

Concern Worldwide Bangladesh, in partnership with eight national organisations is implementing the project in the remote haors of five upazilas of Kishoreganj, Habiganj and Sunamganj districts located in north-eastern part of the country.

The project will continue up to December 2011 and is funded by Concern Worldwide, Development Cooperation Ireland and the European Commission and would engage 90 percent women.

Through micro-financing, innovative and improved agro-based practices and by involving the local government in overall development projects, Hisal is committed to achieve its goal of empowering people.

With Country Director of Concern Worldwide, Bangladesh Kieron Crawley in the chair, the session was also addressed by its Assistant Country Director Oliver Wakelin and Regional Manager Idris Ali Khan.

The launching ceremony was jointly organised by PPRC and Concern Worldwide.