'Jt efforts a must to mitigate climate change impacts'
Sunday, 23 July 2023
RAJSHAHI, July 22 (BSS): Integrated efforts of all public, private and research organisations concerned can be the crucial means of mitigating the adverse impact of climate change in the drought-prone Rajshahi region.
The adverse impact of climate change at alarming rates has severely affected every sector, including agriculture and its diversity, creating a real threat to food production and public health.
Policy planners, academics, researchers and development activists came up with the observation while addressing the inaugural session of the daylong National Drought Convention 2023 at Rajshahi University (RU) here today.
Participatory Research and Action Network (PRAAN), in collaboration with many like-minded organizations, hosted the convention with the main thrust of enhancing drought resilience coupled with reducing risks and promoting proactive planning, adaptation and management.
Saber Hossain Chowdhury, MP, PM's special envoy for climate change and chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, addressed the meeting as the chief guest.
He called for in-depth research on the issue for protecting the region from the adverse impact of climate change, adding that the present government has allocated around Taka 370 billion (37,000 crore) in the current national budget for adaptation and resilience purposes of climate change.
Terming the adverse impact of climate change as an existential threat, lawmaker Saber Hossain Chowdhury underlined the need for exploring way outs and other potentialities.
Fazley Hossain Badsha, MP, Omor Faruque Chowdhury, MP, RU Vice-chancellor Prof Golam Sabbir Sattar and Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh Farah Kabir addressed the session as guests of honour with vice-president of Khani, Bangladesh Rezaul Karim Siddiq Rana in the chair.
In his remarks, lawmaker Fazley Hossain Badsha said instead of indiscriminate using of groundwater, water reservoirs for irrigation purposes has become an urgent need for boosting agricultural productions for ensuring food security.