President draws attention of int'l community to adverse impact of climate change on Bangladesh

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Drawing attention of the international community to adverse impacts of climate change on Bangladesh, President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed has said the government is trying to combat and overcome the challenges posed by the changing climate, particularly natural calamity and the threat of sea level rise, reports UNB.
"The government of Bangladesh is trying to combat and overcome challenges posed by climate change, particularly the threat of rise of sea level and atmospheric temperature and natural disasters in the form of floods, cyclones, storm surges and drought," the President said in a speech at Ohio State University in USA Friday.
A message received here Saturday said the President gave his speech on 'Bangladesh: Problem of Global Warming, Land Inundation and Arsenic Poisoning.'
He also said that the government and its organisations have created fruitful alliance with the civil society and NGOs and aims at balanced development of the nation.
In his keynote speech, the President highlighted the impact of climate change on the water resources of Bangladesh, which may have impact on the future monsoon patterns with severe impacts upon agriculture, land use and availability of usable water, the adverse effects of arsenic contamination in people and products.
He drew attention of the international community to the adverse impact of climate change in the form of desertification of land in Bangladesh.
Earlier in the day, President Iajuddin Ahmed received the representative of Ohio Governor Robert Boggs at his hotel suite.
During the discussion, he urged him to encourage investors from Ohio to share their expertise and technology and invest in Bangladesh in particularly sectors like agriculture, food processing and dairy products.
The meeting was attended by Professor David Hansen, Prof Bobby Moser and Prof Rattan Lal from the Ohio State University.
Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA Humayun Kabir, Military Secretary to the President M Aminul Karim, Director General of SSF Sheikh Monirul Islam and President's Secretary M Sirajul Islam were present at the meeting.
The president offered Jum'a prayer at Noor Islamic Cultural Centre where he announced a donation of $2,000 and presented some books from Bangladesh to the centre.