Say experts
Experts yesterday suggested comprehensive planning of housing system to save arable land, which is decreasing fast and threatening food security.
Plans also need to keep in mind climate change, likely to result in frequent and erratic rainfalls, flooding and cyclones, they said.
The observations came at a conference titled “Empowerment of Communities for Adaptation to Climate Change in Bangladesh” organised by Knowledge Frontiers for Development (Kfd) and Rotary Club of Ramna at The Westin Hotel in the city.
Compact townships could be considered to accommodate more people in a planned area instead of people building houses on small pieces of land, said eminent civil engineer Prof Jamilur Reza Choudhury.
“Once you can raise the level of the houses, you can also save them from floods and cyclones. We are used to traditional houses, but these are not going to work in disasters,” he said.
On use of agricultural land for other purposes indiscriminately, Prof Jamilur, former vice chancellor of Brac University, said, “Soon we will run out of places to produce food.”
Rotary Club could take pilot projects with a village and raise the house levels to protect from disasters, he said, adding that it could also help in negotiating with developed countries for transfer of people affected by climate change.
Economics Prof QK Ahmad said rising population and decrease of arable land by one percent a year are posing serious threat.
He suggested that the government works intensively so that funds for adaptation are used effectively.
Bangladesh Institute for Development Studies (BIDS) Research Director M Asaduzzaman said local governmental institutions have to be made strong to help communities tackle effects of climate change.
Water expert Dr Ainun Nishat said climate change is going to seriously affect food security and livelihood. Traditional knowledge of communities has to be gathered to tackle these impacts, he said.
Fkd Director Abu YM Selim and Rotarian Dr Rezaul Karim also presented papers in the conference.
