Collective effort must to reduce climate change impact

Khulna Correspondent :
Alhaj Talukder Abdul Khalek, Mayor, Khulna City Corporation stated that underdeveloped countries, including Bangladesh, have been demanding compensation from the rich countries of the world since 2010. The Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, first raised the demand at the COP-16 conference in 2010. But it is only discussed in the COP conference, not implemented. So now is the time to collectively come forward and try to reduce the damage and risk due to climate change. He also said that as a result of climate change, the people of Khulna and the southwestern part of the country are the most affected. Especially in 60s, the embankments that were built in the coastal areas were cut by some self-interested people, and the production of shrimp gradually decreased due to the intrusion of saline water. Highlighting the waterlogging of Khulna city, he emphasized that the Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, has allocated enough money for the development of Khulna. However, until the depth of the nearby Rupsa and Mayur Rivers is increased through excavation, it will not be able to relieve the waterlogging even if the drainage road is constructed with that money. Referring to Sundarbans as our mother, the city mayor said people of this region have been saved from all the cyclones that have occurred in the country so far because of Sundarbans. But some evil circles are destroying this forest including some dishonest local politicians. The city mayor also called on everyone to come forward unitedly against those who are destroying the forest.
The city mayor stated these things in his speech as the chief guest at the second coastal children’s climate change conference at Caritas Auditorium in Rupsha, Khulna on Wednesday. Jagrat Jubo Sangho (JJS), a non-governmental development organization, organized the day-long conference.
JJS Executive Director ATM Zakir Hossain presided over the opening ceremony of the conference as a special guest. Besides, Md Moniruzzaman Talukdar, Khulna District Commissioner; SM Nazrul Islam, Khulna Press Club President; Md Kausar Hossain, UNICEF Khulna Chief Field Officer; Tomoko Uchayama, Country Director, Shaplanir Bangladesh; Shubmoy Haque, Country Coordinator, KNH Bangladesh; and Emranul Haq, Consortium Programme Manager, Concern Worldwide Bangladesh. Mohammad Rezaur Rahman, Professor of Water and Flood Management at BUET; Naeem Waher, Member Secretary of the Foundation for Disaster Management; Mahfuz Alam, World Food Organization Representative; Daud Jiban Das, Regional Manager of Caritas; Faisal Hossain, Advocacy Manager, Max Foundation; and Moushumi Biswas, Manager of Action Aid; Shahinur Islam, Program Manager, Educo; Dr. Nazmus Sadat, Professor, Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline, Khulna University; Baisakhi Sarkar and Rakibul Islam of the Children’s Forum on Environment and Climate Change, Yuvraj Sarkar and Jayatri Mandal, students from coastal areas.
MM Chishti, Director Programme, JJS; Pooja Biswas, Member of Shishu Forum gave thanks in the inaugural session. JJS Executive Director ATM Zakir Hossain in his opening speech, expected leadership that thinks of children.
Six sessions on climate were held at the conference. These sessions were presided over by Naeem Waher, Member Secretary of the Foundation of Disaster Forum, Shahnaz Begum, Field Officer of UNICEF Khulna, Professor Mohammad Rezaur Rahman of BUET, and Mahfuz Alam, Head of the World Food Organization’s Sub Office and Dilip Kumar Dutta, Professor of Environmental Science at Khulna University and Mustafa Sarwar, Professor of Urban and Regional Planning Discipline of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology, Tanjil Showgat, Professor, Urban and Rural Planning Discipline, Khulna University. Mrs. Monira Akhter, Tanazil Sawgat, Md. Masum Talukder, Md. Sabuj Sheikh, Gaurang Nandi, Moshiur Rahman, Sweety Khatun, Prof. Nasif Ahsan and Emranul Haq. The article was discussed by Professor Tuhin Roy, Dawood Jiban Das, SM Zahid Hossain, Farhana Akhtar Lamia, Associate Professor Nuzhat Fatema, Suraiya Siddiqa, Moushumi Biswas, Md. Arefin Badal, Hassan Mehedi, Zahid Bin Azad, Shafiqul Islam, Mahfuzur Rahman Mukul, MD Saberul Alam, Prof. Dr. Abdullah Harun Chowdhury, Rota: Kamrul Karim Babu, Kho: Ruhul Amin, Mahmud Hasan, Muminunnessa and many more.
Departmental Director of Environment Department Iqbal Hossain, Deputy Director of Social Services Department Khan Motahar Hossain, Khulna Press Club General Secretary Mamun Reza, and others spoke at the closing ceremony in the afternoon. JJS organized this conference for the second time with the support of Action Aid, Caritas, Concern World Wide, Educo, Kindernothilfe, Max Foundation, Shapla Nir and UNICEF.