Speakers at a workshop on Saturday said south-western part of Bangladesh is one of the disaster prone zones of the globe owing to its geographical location as well as natural reasons. Due to climate change the frequency and intensity of disasters are increasing, threaten lives and livelihood. A large number of people are become ultra poor due to disaster and climate change effect. Speakers said climate change had left an adverse impact on the coastal belt of the country where storms, cyclones, tidal surges, droughts, river erosion and water-logging are now common. They referred to several storms that have already battered the area recently, like Sidr on November 15, 2007 and Aila on May 25, 2009.
Further threats arise from global climate change, especially sea level rise along with its salinity, which has already caused death to many big trees of the largest mangrove forest Sundarbans, they added.
The speakers blamed rich countries for prevailing global climatic situation and suggested long-term economic and socio development framework to resolve the effects of climatic change.
The discussants urged the journalists to play their roles for creating mass awareness for adopting fresh plan to fight the adverse impact of climate change. The speakers made this comment while addressing at a day-long workshop on “Awareness building on Climate Change for Journalist and Local Government Representative” held at the conference room of Hotel Western Inn under Sadar police station of Khulna city on Saturday.
Centre for Development Communication (CDC), a Dhaka based non-government organization and a Khulna based NGO, Rupantar jointly arranged the workshop in collaboration with Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Executive director of CDC, Muhammad Jahangir moderated the workshop. Climate Change Affairs advisor to Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany Sujit Chowdhury delivered the address of welcome.
President of Bangladesh Environmental Journalists’ Forum Kamrul Islam Chowdhury, Senior Reporter of Bengali Daily ‘Prothom Alo’ Arun Karmoker and Associate Professor of Forestry and Wood Technology Faculty of Khulna University (KU) Dr Md Nazmus Sadath were present as resource persons. Executive director of Rupantar, Rafiqul Islam Khokon delivered vote of thanks.
Apart from this, the regulation of river flows by a series of dams, barrages and embankments for diverting upstream water for various human needs and for flood control has caused large reduction in freshwater inflow which has seriously affected the biodiversity due to an increase in salinity and changes in sedimentation, they also said.
They also said that if we implement sustainable activity for the coastal people, especially for the women and disable community then the socio-economic condition will be strong and such adaptation capacity will be enhance. Alternative livelihood option can improve food security in the coastal belt. To enhance adaptation capacity and awareness campaign could build disaster resilience community.
Among others, Mayor of Chalna Pourashova Dr Achinta Kumar Mondal, Dacope upazila parishad vice-chairman Jayonti Rani Sarder, Chitalmari upazila parishad vice chairman Shibani Biswas, Narail upazila parishad vice chairman Salma Rahman Kabita, Khulna Bureau chief of ‘Prothom Alo’ Sheikh Abu Hasan, Staff Reporter, Khulna of ‘BSS’ SM Zahid Hossain, Khulna correspondent of ‘Dainik Dinkal’ Sohrab Hossain, Staff Reporter, Khulna of ‘Kaler Kantho’ Koushik De Bapi, Senior Reporter, Khulna of ‘Masranga TV’ Mostafa Jamal Poplu, were spoke on the occasion.
-With The Independent input
