Hasina urged to speak up for climate refugees

Twenty-three rights bodies urged on Thursday Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina to speak up for global responsibility for climate refugees, or environmental migrants, in the upcoming UN Sustainable Development Summit, reports UNB
The PM should speak up for a demand to draw up new UN protocol for rights and responsibilities for climate refugees, they said. International climate scientists forecast that by the year 2050 one of five people in Bangladesh would be a climate refugee, they said at a joint press conference held at the National Press Club organised by 23 rights-based organisations.
The press conference was moderated by Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of Equity and Justice Working Group Bangladesh (EquityBD), and the position paper was presented by Sayed Aminul Haque on behalf of the group. Other speakers at the press conference were ASM Badrul Alam of Bangladesh Farmers Forum / MTCP 2 (Mid term Cooperation Project - 2) , Aminur Rasul Babul of Unnayan Dhara Trust, Ferdous Ara Rumee from International Rural Women Day Observation Committee (IRWDC) and Mostafa Kamal Akhanda of COAST.
In his address, ASM Badrul Alam of Bangladesh Krishak Forum and MTCP2 mentioned that small farmers provide 80 per cent of global food, but they are being turned into paupers and losing land ownership. The government must protect them and accept right to food as a fundamental right of the people, he added.
Ferdous Ara Rumee said no women and girls should be left out in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). There should not be complacency in respect of gender parity in primary enrolment and reduction in material and infant mortality, she said insisting to give importance to women and girl's health and nutrition in future.
Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, moderator of the press conference, said that the prime minister should reflect people's aspirations, as she has been considered as an outstanding leader and she should also take bold steps in the country, especially in respecting free, fair independent space for growing basic democratic institutions.