PM urges developed world to fulfill commitment

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday reiterated her call to the developed world to fulfill their commitments to face the negative impact of climate change. The Prime Minister also urged the world people to be more vocal about realisation of the pledges of the developed world. ‘Bangladesh has no role in global warming and climate change. But we have become the worst victims of its negative impact,’ Sheikh Hasina said while inaugurating the World Environment Day, the week-long Environment Fair and 3-month long National Tree Plantation Campaign and Tree Fair at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the city. Environment and Forest Minister Anwar Hossain Manju presided over the function organised by the Ministry of Environment and Forests. Environment and Forests Secretary Md Shafiqur Rahman Patwary delivered the welcome address. Sheikh Hasina said the UN Environment Programme has fixed the theme of the World Environment Day as ‘Raise your voice, not the sea level’ which is very significant for the entire world, especially the coastal countries like Bangladesh. Citing a report of the International Panel of Climate Change, she said the sea water is swelling in one hand, while the ice of different glaciers including polar regions is melting abnormally for the last 20 years in other. As a result, she said, an apprehension of going down of coastal low-lying areas of many countries of the world including small islands under the sea has been created. Besides, the industrialised countries emitted millions of tonnes of carbon for the last one hundred years. ‘The coastal countries including Bangladesh are being victims of frequent cyclone and tidal surge,’ she added, according to BSS.