Lawmakers form action group on climate change

Lawmakers from coastal constituencies formed "Bangladesh Climate Change Action Group" yesterday in a move to address the adverse impact of climate change.

"People in the coastal areas are bearing the brunt of natural disasters that prompted us to form the forum in the face of the inevitable consequences of climate change," said ASM Firoz, whip of parliament and an elected member from Patuakhali.

Firoz has been selected as convener of the forum. The group is expected to have around 50 members, all elected from the southern region.

The forum was formed at a discussion on Climate Change: Adverse Effect on Bangladesh and Our Action held at the Parliament Members' Club in the city.

Firoz said that they would appoint a spokesman for the forum to make their voices heard in local and international conferences on climate change.

"We must develop awareness among the coastal people, so they would be prepared to address the challenges," he said.

He urged experts and NGO representatives to work in collaboration with the government organisations and representatives to design the course of actions, which will minimise effects of the climate change on people.

Speaking at the discussion meeting, Ruhul Amin Hawlader, secretary general of Jatiya Party, asked the government to take necessary steps to secure sufficient amount of money from international communities to meet the challenges.

Due to climate change, fertility of soil and river fishes in coastal areas are reducing alarmingly day by day, claimed Golam Maula Rony, elected form Patuakhali-3.

"Reduced capability of both land and water in production is severely affecting economical aspects of the people in coastal areas. Besides, we are facing continuous natural disasters. Only concerted efforts can alleviate the sufferings of the people," he said.

Mizan R Khan, professor of the department of Environmental Science and Management, North South University, presented a keynote paper at the meeting.

He said that if the sea level of the Bay of Bengal rises for 1 mitre, the government would have to evacuate at least 3 crore people from the coastal areas.

"Keeping this cautionary message in mind, the government should design the next course of plan," he added.

Mahbubur Rahman, state minister for water resources, lawmakers Narayan Chandra Chanda, principal Shorab Hossain, advocate Afzal Hossain, BH Harun, MA Zabbar and representatives of different NGOs including WBB Trust, Grambangla Unnayan Committee and Save the Coastal People (SCOPE), among others, were present at the discussion meeting.

A meeting will be held on September 10 to fix a date for the final meeting to discuss the structure and other aspects related to the forum.