Speakers at a seminar titled “Climate change: impacts, adaptation and mitigation measures in Bangladesh” compared the impacts of climate change with the affects of colonialization in terms of derivativeness.
A seminar organized by the BUET alumni was held at the BUET auditorium on Saturday.
Addressing the seminar Director General Department of Environment Dr Sultan Ahmed compared the impacts of climate change with that of colonialization in terms of derivativeness.
Dr Sultan said: “For over two centuries we were subjugated and oppressed by British colonialization but the impact of climate change is more devastating than that.”
“We lost Talpotti Island due to climate change. It is now under water. If someone asks whether we need to expand climate related fund, I want to say that this type of question has no validation. The government of Bangladesh has spent a lot money of its own in hundreds of actions to tackle climate change,” he said.
Pointing towards the developed countries he said, “The developed countries who are prime polluters should augment their sense, only then human beings would survive and we will be able to overcome the influence of climate change.”
Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud as chief guest at the seminar said: “To tackle the challenges of climate change we have adopted various ways to survive. We are at present growing Salinity-resistant rice varieties and have adapted to cultivating vegetables on water, now we have to do a lot on adaptation. We have to come up with innovative ideas more and more.”
Dr M Asaduzzaman former research director, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies said: “If the sea level rises continuously, and we do nothing in this regard, affects on food grain production may turn disastrous.
Session chair Jamilur Reza Choudhury vice chancellor of University of Asia Pacific emphasized more studies to address impacts of climate change at national level. “Besides tackling the climate change affects at global level, we should learn to address affects at national level. A global research center can be created in Dhaka to tackle impact of climate change.”
Dr Ainun Nishat, emeritus professor and former vice chancellor at BRAC University, Dr A Atiq Rahman executive director, Bangladesh Center for Advanced Studies, and Dr Nurul Quadir, additional secretary, ministry of environment, forest and climate change presented discussed the topics of keynote paper.