Govt to provide houses for all climate change affected people: Environment minister

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister, Md Shahab Uddin, today said that the government is sincerely working to accommodate all the people affected by climate change by providing the required number of houses for them.

"The present government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is sincerely working to address various risks related to climate change. So far, 800 projects have been undertaken at a cost of Tk 3,800 crore with the funding of the Climate Change Trust Fund to this end," he said.

The environment minister made the remarks while exchanging views with officials of the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust at Mohakhali in the city, said a press release.

About 30 million people in the coastal areas have benefited from these projects, Shahab Uddin said, adding that the government will take further steps to build more houses in future for those rendered homeless due to climate change.

He said all necessary steps will be taken to amend the law, set up field offices and recruit adequate manpower so that the Climate Change Trust can function independently.

The minister directed the concerned officials to construct the Cyclone Shelter cum Primary School on a four-storey foundation and to set up lightning forecast system across the country.

Chaired by Managing Director of the Climate Change Trust Masud Ahmed, it's Secretary Nasir-ud-Daulah and Director Md Khairuzzaman, Conservator of Forest Department SM Munirul Islam, and Assistant Director of the Trust Shakila Yasmin spoke at the meeting, among others.

Before the view exchange meeting, the minister visited a photo exhibition displaying various activities implemented with the funding of Climate Change Trust Fund and gave instructions to the concerned officials on various issues.