Govt must win climate compensation
Scientist tells rally
Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon and eight other organisations hold a citizens' rally before Central Shaheed Minar in the capital yesterday to place an 11-point demand to address the country's vulnerability to climate change.Photo: STAR
The government should strongly raise its voice to win just compensation from the industrialised countries, which are mostly responsible for the vagaries of climate, noted environmental scientist Dr A Atiq Rahman said at a rally yesterday. The developed nations have greatly contributed to climate change through large-scale carbon emission, while the developing nations like Bangladesh are victim of the impacts, he said. So the government should strengthen its voice to obtain just compensation, he added. For climate change adaptation, Dr Atiq placed three recommendations--wide-scale tree plantation, introduction of cooker that burns without firewood, and cutting traffic jam. Hundreds of people in Bangladesh are being displaced by river erosion, flash flood, and other natural disasters, which are the consequences of climate change, he said, urging the government to rehabilitate the victims with the support of global climate fund. Addressing the rally styled "Connecting the Climate Realities in Bangladesh", noted columnist and social activist Syed Abul Maksud stressed the need for a holistic approach of the government to address climate issues. All the related ministries and other government and non-government organisations should take integrated initiatives to work out a long-term plan to protect the country from natural disasters in the future, he said. Dr Abdul Matin, general secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa), which arranged the rally along with eight other organisations, placed an 11-point demand to address the country's vulnerability to climate change. The demands include bringing down carbon emission below 350ppm, transparent use of climate fund, and arrangement of special facilities for coastal people. Nirapod Development Foundation Chairman Ibnul Syed Rana and Bapa member Hasan Yusuf Khan, among others, addressed the programme at Central Shaheed Minar in the capital.
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