Allocate Tk 15,000cr to protect coasts

Participants including a number of lawmakers at a virtual seminar yesterday urged the government to allocate at least Tk 15,000 crore from revenue in the 2021-22 national budget for coastal protection, particularly for climate-resilient embankment construction.

They suggested that the government develop an embankment maintenance strategy and ensure effective involvement of local government in the process.

The seminar was organised jointly by Coast foundation, Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihood, Center for Participatory Research and Development, and Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network on "National budget 2021-22 and Coastal Protection Issues ''.

Addressing as chief guest, Dhaka-9 lawmaker Saber Hossain Chowdhury proposed for adopting a new "embankment policy" and move forward.

The kind of developed country Bangladesh is dreaming to be will not be fulfilled if protection of coastal population is not ensured, said Saber, also chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.

About 2.5 crore people live in the country's coastal areas, he said.

Lawmaker Narayon Chandra Chanda of Khulna-5 constituency said lawmakers can consolidate their opinions regarding coastal protection before presenting those to the parliament.

He said natural calamities in coastal belt is different from what's seen in other areas of the country, adding, parts of coastal area go under water during high tide in May-September.

Water expert Ainun Nishat said political biases should be minimised for prioritisation and budget allocation that is absent in embankment planning.

The projects under the "Delta Plan" have been taken without consideration of local knowledge, he said.

Lawmaker Zafar Alam of Cox's Bazar-1 constituency proposed for establishing a separate "coastal development board".

Shameem Haider Patwary, lawmaker of Gaibandha-1 constituency, said collective effort was required to address coastal population's problems.

He stressed the need for "mapping" coastal areas.

Nahim Razzaq, lawmaker of Shariatpur-3 constituency, said the country lacked efficiency in comprehensive water management.

He stressed for giving importance on vegetation and forestation in coastal areas, saying those act as natural protectors during calamities.

Moderating the seminar, Coast Trust Executive Director Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said recommendations generated in the seminar will be sent to the lawmakers, urging them to raise coastal issues before the parliament.

Lawmakers Mir Mushtaque Ahmed Robi of Satkhira-2, Nurunnabi Chowdhury of Bhola-3, and Asheq Ullah Rafiq of Cox's Bazar-2, among others, spoke at the seminar.