Green activists call for discussion among all stakeholders

Underscoring the need for a holistic strategy for the "Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100", green activists yesterday said a thorough discussion among all stakeholders is needed before implementation of the plan.

It is a wide-ranging and far-reaching plan, aimed apparently at formulating a holistic strategy for better utilisation of Bangladesh's land and water resources -- in light of the adverse effects of climate change, said Dr Abdul Matin, general secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa).

Bapa and Bangladesh Environment Network will jointly hold a two-day special conference titled “Delta Plan 2100 and Sustainable Development in Bangladesh” on January 4 and 5 next year to inform people and get their opinion on the strength and weakness of the plan.

Bapa yesterday held a press conference at Bangladesh Shishu Kalyan Parishad in Dhaka to reveal details of the proposed conference.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) last month approved the Bangladesh

Delta Plan 2100. It is stipulated that about 2.5 percent of the GDP will be spent each year on projects under this plan. By 2030, the total amount of the expenditure will be US$ 30 billion.

Mentioning that in 1964 the then East Pakistan took a master plan for water development, Matin said unfortunately many projects under that plan failed to achieve desire results.

“At least 500 rivers were destroyed in the name of development over the last 60 years,” he said, adding that if the government does not modify its plan, then it will turn out devastating for the country.

Bapa's general secretary also opined that the river water sharing with India needs to be resolved first before the government goes for implementation of the Delta Plan.

Pointing out the importance of the conference, he said both victims and experts will participate in the conference and will share their views over the strength and weakness of the plan.

Among others, Bapa Vice-president Khandaker Bazlul Haque was present in the press conference.