Journalists working in the coastal areas have called for an effective action plan at the policy-making level to realize compensation for the region affected by climate change.
At a views exchange meeting under the banner of “Coastal Voice of Bangladesh (COB)” on Monday, journalists said that the people of coastal areas, including Khulna, were heavily affected by climate change but did not receive due compensation.
Storm surges, river erosion, flooding and salinity are increasing gradually. They observed that people are being displaced, and the poor are becoming poorer.
The journalists also demanded the formation of the “Coastal Development Authority”, and full implementation of the Water Policy.
The discussion was held on the occasion of the Third Coastal Water Conference, to be held in Khulna on January 24-25.
COB General Secretary Kaushik Dey conducted the meeting under the chairmanship of Mustafa Jamal Poplu, the president of the organization, at Kabar Secretariat in the city.
Shamim Arfeen, general secretary of the Third Coastal Water Conference Committee, delivered the welcome speech. Journalists Md Hedayet Hossain Molla, Rakibul Islam Moti, Sheikh Al Ehsan, Abhijit Pal, Mohammad Milan and Sheikh Awal, development workers Mahbubur Rahman Mohan, and Helena Khatun, among others, spoke at the meeting.