5,000 NGOs apply for climate funds

As many as 5,000 non-government organisations have applied for fund to the government to fight adverse impacts of climate change, a parliamentary body disclosed yesterday.
At a discussion over the usage of the climate change fund, the parliamentary standing committee on environment and forest ministry formed a five-member sub-committee to oversee the utilisation of the fund by NGOs.
The government has decided to sanction Tk 100 crore for NGO initiatives from its Tk 400 crore climate change fund, Abdul Momin Talukder, chief of the parliamentary body told reporters after the meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
The ministries concerned would use the remaining fund, he added.
Talukder, also a BNP lawmaker, said the sub-committee would oversee whether there is anomaly in selecting NGOs and spending of the fund.
About the increasing pirate attacks in the Sundarbans, the parliamentary body has decided to ask the home ministry to launch a joint operation of police and Rab to protect fishermen and forest officials of the area.
It has also recommended scrapping licence and closure of all brickfields, which were set up without following rules and adding to pollution.
The watchdog also asked the foreign ministry to encourage more Indians in voting for the Sundarbans so that the largest mangrove forest becomes one of the world's new seven wonders.
Meanwhile, the parliamentary standing committee on religious affairs ministry rejected a proposal for sending hajj pilgrims to Makkah by ships.
A number of private shipping companies recently sent the proposal to the shipping ministry. With a positive gesture, the shipping ministry forwarded the proposal to the religious affairs ministry, said a press release from the parliament secretariat.
It said, "The committee unanimously decided to reject the proposal."