Experts concerned over rise in natural disasters
Speakers yesterday expressed concern over the increase in frequency of natural disasters, which are the negative impacts of climate change, in the country and urged the government to allocate more climate fund for research.
Frequency of the different forms of natural disasters have increased due to the negative impacts of climate change, which can be exemplified by the drop in the annual rainfall, they stated at a seminar.
Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa) organised the seminar, “Ice melting in Antarctica and climate change impacts on the Earth and Bangladesh”, in the capital's Jatiya Press Club.
Addressing as the chief guest, Environment and Forests Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said climate change has caused the annual rainfall to drop in the country but the frequency of torrential rain to increase.
Bangladesh is geographically in a very vulnerable position and its estimated 30 million inhabitants will be directly affected due to sea level rise, he added.
“Around 17 percent land of the Sundarbans will go under the sea if the sea level rises by only one metre,” the minister said.
Former University Grants Commission chairman Prof Nazrul Islam said developed industrial countries continue to go on polluting, ignoring the climate change impacts, while developing countries like Bangladesh are becoming victims of natural disasters.
The country's environment was under threat due to the anti-environment activities of some people of the country, he said.
He suggested the government to allocate more fund for the universities to conduct research on the impacts and prevention of climate change.
Bapa President ASM Shahjahan chaired the seminar. Water expert Prof Feroze Ahmed and Bapa Secretary Dr Mohammad Abdul Matin also spoke on the occasion.
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