Effective steps to face climate change impact emphasised

RAJSHAHI, May 16 (BSS): Time-fitting measures have become an urgent need to protect the farming system and public health sector in the dried region from the adverse impact of climate change for ensuring sound public life coupled with food security and development.
Speakers at a participatory discussion here said this today. They observed that the existing agricultural system has started facing a serious threat due to the adverse impact.
The observations came at a workshop styled "Impact of Climate Change in Bangladesh: Expectations and Demands of affected Community from Paris Climate Conference" held at Hotel Nice International in Rajshahi city. Bangladesh Center for Advanced Studies (BCAS) organised the workshop in association with European Union and French Embassy Bangladesh.
More than 50 persons comprising government and non-government organizations concerned, farmers and fishermen and other stakeholders attended the workshop and actively took part in group discussion on various risk issues.
During his keynote presentation, Golam Rabbani, Fellow of BCAS, said that Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries of climate change. He also noted that the developed countries need to cooperate to implement Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP).
Prof Dr Akhtar Hossain and Prof Dr Redwanur Rahman from Rajshahi University, Executive Engineer of Water Development Board Harun-Or Rashid and development activist Alima Khatun addressed the programme as resource persons.
Social Worker Jamat Khan, Divisional Coordinator of BELA Tonmoy Sanyal and journalist Jabid Hossain also spoke.
The discussants mentioned that a large number of water bodies and wetlands have become derelict in the region due to lack of adequate rainfall posing a serious threat to the biodiversity especially the livelihood of the poor and marginal people.