Do more to tackle climate change
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked the developed countries and development partners to come forward further to help countries that are vulnerable to climate change.
She also urged them to take effective measures instead of just making pledges.
The PM came up with these remarks while inaugurating the two-day Bangladesh Development Forum 2020 at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the capital.
The Economic Relations Division (ERD) under the Ministry of Finance is organising the BDF -- a high-level multi-stakeholder participatory forum.
The forum provides a platform for effective dialogues among development partners, national and international NGOs, development think tanks, development practitioners, and leaders from businesses and industries.
The PM said Bangladesh government had formed a trust fund to face the challenges of climate change as the developed countries and development partners are not fulfilling their pledges properly.
She also said, “Bangladesh is not responsible at all for climate change, but the country is getting affected. For this, those who are mostly responsible for climate change should contribute the highest.”
The Prime Minister said the government has formulated the Delta Plan 2100 to save Bangladesh from climate change effects and started implementing it.
She also said the development partners, who are rather giving too many conditions, should come forward to help in those areas where Bangladesh has started moving forward and advance the country properly.
The Prime Minister also urged the development partners to come forward in implementing various long-term plans of the government to ensure sustainable development of the country.
Hasina said the government is implementing various plans, including 5 and 10 years ones as well as other long-term plans since it came to power with Vision 2021 declared in 2008.
As a result, Bangladesh witnessed desired development for which it has been recognised as a developing country, she said.
The Prime Minister pointed out the 20-year long perspective plan for the next 2021-2041 period and sought cooperation of the development partners to implement it.
She said appropriate planning and political decisions are key factors to achieve desired development of the country.
Hasina highlighted the success stories of her government in advancing the country for the over one decade, and said it is not a magic, rather the time based various plans and political decisions are the key factors in this regard.
Pointing out the tragic 15th August carnage, the Prime Minister said the continuation of democracy was obstructed after the brutal assassination of the Father of the Nation in 1975.
As a result, she said, Bangladesh could not advance towards desired development and prosperity. “No nation can achieve development without political commitment.”
The Prime Minister also highlighted her government’s steps taken for the development of country’s education, health, communications and other sectors.
Hasina said steps have been taken to strengthen river, road, rail and air communications further, while the rivers of the country are being dredged in phases to increase navigability.
Besides, the government has also been working to ensure all basics urban facilities in villages to improve the living standard of the commoners, she said.
The Prime Minister expressed her firm optimism that Bangladesh would be the most developed and prosperous country in South Asia.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, Senior Vice President of JICA Dr Junichi Yamada, World Bank’s Vice President for the South Asia Region Hartwig Schafer, Asian Development Bank Vice-President Shixin Chen, United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Bangladesh Mia Seppo, and ERD Secretary Monowar Ahmed also spoke at the programme.
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