Dr Mashrur Salekin, additional metropolitan sessions judge, has called for the establishment of environmental courts in all 64 districts to strengthen the country's response to climate-related issues.
He was speaking at a discussion titled “Bangladesh’s International Position and Financing in Combating Climate Change: State Responsibility and Reality”, jointly organized by the Faculty of Law, Dhaka University (DU) and Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) on Monday in the DU Faculty of Law conference hall.
“We need 64 environmental courts in the country. If we can not ensure that, we have to establish them at least on the divisional level,” he said.
“Currently, Bangladesh has two,” he added.
BLAST Executive Director Sara Hossain said: “Speaking from our experience, filing the case is the end of the way, rather it is a long and important journey.”
She added: “We have to look at our and the state’s obligations regarding this matter.”
Syed Matiul Ahsan, program adviser of climate at the Royal Danish Embassy, said: “We only attach climate issues with the Ministry of Environment. To move forward, we need to include other ministries like the Ministry of Labour.”
He stressed the importance of replicating successful climate-related projects.
Md Samsuddhoha, executive director of the Centre for Participatory Research, said: “The conventions are not legally binding.”
“We need to have a national narrative for climate change actions, and how we will spend the money once we get it,” he added.
Dean of the DU Faculty of Law Dr Muhammad Ekramul Haque, Centre for Climate Justice Bangladesh (CCJ-B) Fellow Moumita Das Gupta, Research Associate of CCJ-B Syed Tanvir Azam Taif, also spoke at the event.
