Major success in facing the impacts of global climate change would not be achieved unless local representatives and people are involved in the process of facing the challenges, said development workers and local representatives yesterday.
As the local representatives, mainly union parishad (UP) chairmen, stay close to people, they understand people's sufferings and can easily unite people to implement a plan, they said at a dialogue.
The tripartite dialogue on 'Increasing the power of local government to face climate change challenges' was organised by ActionAid Bangladesh at the National Press Club in the city.
"I can differentiate what kind of environmental challenges have come to my areas in the last five to six years as the effects of climate change and I understand the sufferings of my people," said Barek Mollah, a UP chairman of Kuakata union.
Crops, trees, water and farmlands in his union and even sea fishes have been affected in the last five years, the chairman added.
Local leaders called on the government to reconstruct the embankments in the costal areas, as the water level in sea and rivers have risen due to climate changes.
Abdul Zabbar, chairman of Shahzadpur union under Sirajganj, said: "Though there are six seasons in the country, the people of my district can experience only three -- winter, summer and rainy seasons."
According to the government statistics, as many as two crore people have become homeless due to river erosion after the liberation war, said Syeda Rizwana Hasan, executive director of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers' Association.
Sufficient fund should be allocated for the local government and efficiency of representatives be increased to face the upcoming challenges, she added.
Farah Kabir, country director of ActionAid, said people themselves are much conscious of their problems and they can bring solution or suggestion to resolve their own problems.
State Minister for Environment and Forests Hasan Mahmud said local government is the first tier for people to reach there. So, their role is very important to face the impacts of climate change.
The issue of enrolling local representatives in the process of facing climate change impacts would be included in 'Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan', he added.