Bangladesh High Commission, London has announced ‘Mujib Climate Prosperity Youth Award’ and creation of a platform for the ‘BHCL Climate Volunteers: Road to Glasgow,’ marking the 50 years of Bangladesh-UK diplomatic relations.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK and Ireland Saida Muna Tasneem made the announcement yesterday at a special event attended by the State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Md Shahriar Alam MP and UK’s Minister for London, Paul Scully MP. The event also coincided with and was held as a part of the London Climate Action Week 2021.
Among other prominent politicians attending the virtual event were Rushanara Ali MP of the Tower Hamlets Borough, and Nahim Razzaq MP, Member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Convener of Climate Parliament Bangladesh.
Saleemul Huq, Head of the Expert Advisory Group for the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF); Zafar Sobhan, Editor of Dhaka Tribune; Councillor Asma Islam, Cabinet Member for Environment and Public Realm (Job Share) - Lead on Environment, also spoke at the event.
Other speakers included Anna Aberg, Research Analyst, Energy, Environment and Resources Programme at Chatham House; Farhan Khan, Head of Programs, Channel S, and young climate activists from the UK and Bangladesh. Nearly 200 people from Bangladesh and the UK joined the virtual dialogue, co-chaired by High Commissioner Saida Muna Tasneem and Mayor of the Tower Hamlets Council John Biggs.
John Briggs said collaboration between youth in Bangladesh and the young people from Bangladeshi diaspora in Tower Hamlets can be a powerful force for change. “I greatly appreciate this event and really appreciate the Bangladesh government’s initiatives to combat climate change,” Briggs said.
Asma Islam, a local coincillor at Tower Hamlets said that this event shows how important it is to partner on climate change issues. “It really shows that honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has really put this climate emergency in the forefront of policy, making sure that Bangladesh is also leading and demonstrating the work that everyone can do,” she said.
Paul Scully MP said that the event was a great and memorable occasion to remind everyone about the great relationship that Bangladesh and UK developed over the last 50 years. “It is important that this is a global effort, that governments come together to support each other. We have a community in Bangladesh and UK to exchange expertise, to share our technology, to facilitate partnerships, and to identify common challenges to combat climate chang,” said Scully.
Editor of Dhaka Tribune newspaper — which is a media partner for the event — Zafar Sobhan said that climate change is the emblematic issue of the twenty first century. “Bangladesh is absolutely at the frontline of climate change. But the good news of course is that as we celebrate our 50 years of independence, Bangladesh has come so far, we have achieved and accomplished so much, that I feel that we are ready and we have the visionary and inspirational leadership to in fact take on this unique challenge,” Sobhan said.
Prominent climate activist and scientist Saleemul Huq said that there is a significant network of university students and non-student youth in Bangladesh that is being mobilized on the climate change issue. “We need to be linking up with their counterparts in the UK. I know that school kids in Fridays for Future are already doing that, but I think we need to do this much more strongly on a bilateral basis going forward,” Huq said.
Rushanara Ali MP of the Tower Hamlets Borough said Bangladesh achieved remarkable growth despite the setbacks by climate adversities. “I think it is wrong that our government has cut the aid budget and Bangladesh has seen a massive hit on its aid budget. It’s importance that they support the climate agenda, but also support poverty alleviation.”
Nahim Razzaq MP said that Bangladesh is a champion in adaptation and the UK is a champion in mitigation. “The partnership that is being promoted here can bring about major changes. The youth that we are engaging here are very important. I have been engaging with them and discussing how we can make the change happen. These youth in Bangladesh and the UK need to build a bridge together so that they can work towards a common goal.”
The State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Md Shahriar Alam MP said, “This year we are celebrating the golden Jubilee of Bangladesh and the birth centenary of the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. At the same time we are celebrating the 50th year of our diplomatic relationship. And also this year Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has declared the Mujib Climate Prosperity Decade 2030 and Action Plan, and that obviously charting a low carbon development pathway for Bangladesh,” the state minister said.
The state minister said that Bangladesh will look forward to the UK’s robust and ambitious climate leadership at COP26 and beyond. He commended the event for connecting youths from Bangladesh and Bangladeshi diaspora in Tower Hamlets.
The virtual event titled 'Bangladesh High Commission-Tower Hamlets Youth Climate Program: Bangladesh-UK Youth Voices on Climate Action’ was part of a joint collaborative event between Bangladesh High Commission, London and Tower Hamlets Council to celebrate the 50th anniversaries of Bangladesh’s Independence and Bangladesh-UK Diplomatic relations.
It aimed to engage young climate activists in Bangladesh and the Bangladeshi-British diaspora at the Tower Hamlets Council, home to the largest number of Bangladeshi expatriate community in the UK.
