Bangladesh is one of the countries at risk: Sheikh Hasina

National Adoption Plan (NAP) was organized for the first time in Bangladesh. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina attended the opening ceremony. There he said such things in the face of threats to Bangladesh.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that Bangladesh’s contribution to global carbon emissions is very small, but Bangladesh is one of the affected and vulnerable countries. This adverse effect of climate change is a threat to the potential development and economic prosperity of Bangladesh.

Read more: For the first time, ticket vending machines are being installed in railway stations

Pointing out that Bangladesh is always working with the international community to deal with climate change, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that Bangladesh has already taken various steps under the leadership of the Prime Minister’s Office with development partners.

He said these things at the opening ceremony of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Expo-2024 organized for the first time in Bangladesh at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center on Monday (April 22) noon.

The Prime Minister said that in Bangladesh we have reduced the use of fossil fuels and increased the use of renewable energy. In order to reduce the emission of green house gas. So far, about 60 lakh solar home systems have been installed and more than 45 lakh improved stoves have been distributed in rural areas.

He said, we have formulated Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan (MCPP) in 2023. It aims to move from vulnerability to resilience and from resilience to prosperity by addressing the adverse effects of climate change. Apart from this, the MCPP emphasizes on the self-motivated participation of local people in adaptation and mitigation activities, nature-based solutions and the participation of all members of the society.

He also said that the global initiative to combat the adverse effects of climate change was taken in 1992. But the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took an effective and far-reaching action plan in this regard in 1972. He started coastal afforestation in 1972 to protect against sea tides and natural calamities.

In the same year formulated the ‘Cyclone Preparedness Programme’ which was inaugurated in 1973. He built cyclone shelters in coastal areas to protect lives and property. These shelters are known as ‘Mujib Killa’ to the locals. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib raised the issue of natural disasters in international forums. In his address to the United Nations on September 25, 1974, he said, Bangladesh is one of the countries that are repeatedly affected by disasters. Therefore, the special interest of Bangladesh lies in the formation of a regular institutional system suitable for the world community to come forward to deal with the situation arising from natural disasters.

The head of government said that about 37 thousand crore taka are being spent in the program of sea dam, cyclone shelter, coastal afforestation etc. in the fiscal year 2023-2024 through 25 concerned ministries. In 1970, a catastrophic cyclone and flash flood in Bangladesh killed nearly five lakh people. But in 2023, there was no loss of life in Cyclone Mokha. It is a manifestation of Bangladesh’s capacity in climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

The head of government also said that in the last 15 years, we have created 89 thousand 853 hectares of coastal forests with plantations in an area of ​​about 127 thousand 548 hectares of hilly and sal forests. We have framed the Social Forestry Rules 2010 (Amended) with the involvement of the local people. We have constructed the world’s largest ‘Khurushkul Special Shelter Project’ in Cox’s Bazar district for climate refugee families. Under this project, the goal of rehabilitating 4 thousand 409 climate refugee families has been set by constructing 139 multi-storied buildings. Apart from this, we have provided houses with land to climate refugees, landless due to natural calamities, homeless, other socially backward communities and provided them with education, health and employment opportunities. So far we have rehabilitated around 42 lakh people.

At this time, the Prime Minister gave 6-point recommendations to increase the climate adaptation capacity and take international coordinated initiatives to reduce the risk.