Acting speaker calls for research on haor, climate challenges

Acting Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad Barrister Kayser Kamal, MP, on Tuesday stressed the need for extensive research to help address the sufferings of people living in the country’s haor regions and the growing challenges of climate-induced migration.

He made the remarks during a courtesy call by a delegation led by Dr Tasneem Siddiqui, founding chair of the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU), at the Jatiya Sangsad.

“We have come to Parliament to represent the people. Our responsibility towards the country and its citizens is immense,” the Acting Speaker said.

He said comprehensive research is essential to ease the hardships of people in the haor areas and address their livelihood challenges, adding that research findings should be effectively used in policymaking and development initiatives, according to a Parliament Secretariat press release.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the formation of a parliamentary caucus to work on climate change issues at the global level. They also agreed on the importance of raising the concerns of climate-vulnerable countries like Bangladesh at the parliamentary forum of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP).

The discussion also covered internal migration and displacement caused by climate change.
The Acting Speaker said climate change and natural disasters are having a profound impact on people’s lives and livelihoods, gradually weakening social and family bonds across the country.

Established at the University of Dhaka in 1995, RMMRU is a leading Bangladeshi research organisation and think tank focusing on migration, refugees and internal displacement.

The organisation conducts research and supports policy formulation on migrant workers, refugees, climate-induced displacement and the rights of marginalised communities, aiming to contribute to poverty reduction through migration.