The government is creating a green belt through an afforestation programme along the coast of 2,277 square kilometres (km) to protect people's lives during cyclones, water surges and other extreme natural events.
"To protect people's lives during cyclones and water surges, the government is creating a green belt through massive afforestation along the coast. So far 2,277 square kilometres of char afforestation has been done in the coastal area," Environment Minister Md Shahab Uddin said.
He was speaking as the chief guest at a national dialogue on adverse effect of climate change in Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest, and the way to deal with its harmful effects in the Sundarban coastal region.
Habibun Nahar, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, spoke as the special guest at the dialogue, held at the Parliament Members Club auditorium in the city's Jatiya Sangsad area on Wednesday.
Mohan Kumar Mondal, Executive Director of LEDARS (Local Environment Development and Agricultural Research Society), presented the keynote at the event, chaired by Nikhil Chandra Bhadra, President of Sundarbans and Coast Protection Movement.
According to the environment, forests and climate change ministry the government is implementing multifaceted effective measures to deal with climate change risks in the Sundarban coasts.
Pertinent to note that coastal areas in Bangladesh's south, southwest and southeastern districts are extremely vulnerable to extreme events due to the climate change impact.
Sundarbans which is situated in southwestern coastal districts of Bagerhat, Satkhira and Khulna almost every year face the onslaught of cyclonic storms and tidal surges, which often take place in the region due to the changing climate.
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