Experts at a national dialogue on Saturday underscored the need for pre-preparedness to reduce the impact of natural disasters facing the country almost every year.
“Frequency of natural disasters will increase. We need to focus on preparations to face calamities. There is no option but to ensure community participation to combat disasters,” said Emeritus Professor Dr Ainun Nishat, an expert of water resource management and climate change.
He came up with the remark while speaking at the national dialogue titled ‘Coastal Livelihood: Crisis and Way Forward’ held at the National Press Club in the capital.
Dhoritri Rokhhay Amra, DHORA, a civic platform in Bangladesh, arranged the event with Bejoy Nicephorus D’Cruze, Roman Catholic archbishop of Dhaka and advisory committee member of DHORA, in the chair.
Sharif Jamil, member secretary of DHORA moderated the event while Gloria Jharna Sarkar, a former MP, Dr Muzibur Rahman Howlader, a former chairman of National River Conservation Commission (NRCC), Sharmeen Murshid, chief executive officer of the election observation group “Brotee” and co-convener of DHORA and MS Siddique, an adviser to Bangladesh Competition Commission, among others, spoke at the programme.
Nikhil Chandra Bhadra, coordinator of Upokul Rokhhay Amra, delivered the welcome speech at the dialogue while concept papers were presented by Meer Muhammad Ali, an assistant professor and chairman of Department of Aquaculture of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University and Md Iqbal Faruk, research and programme implementation manager of Blue Planet Initiative.
In his speech, Bejoy Nicephorus D’Cruze said, “We hear the cries of the coastal people. Let their cry ring in our hearts. We must protect the environment to protect ourselves. We all need to work together to tackle the effects of climate change.”
Sharif Jamil said, “We (DHORA) have recently started our activities, but the platform has already work on the problems of climate and environment in different areas of the country long ago. Coastal areas in Bangladesh are environmentally sensitive. Bangladesh is one of the few countries in the world that are under threat of climate change. Well-being of the coastal people has become one of the challenges due to climate change and unplanned development activities.”
Dr Muzibur Rahman Howlader said all the establishments set up by occupying the river should be evacuated. Any power plant should not be built by occupying the river. “The river must be saved. We must work together to save the environment,” he added.
Professor Dr Ainun Nishat said, “We must understand nature. In the country of six seasons, Bangladesh has now become a country of four seasons. Sea level is rising. The southwest coast could disappear into the ocean and the salinity will increase further inland. There is no alternative to rainwater harvesting. Community participation in fighting disasters should be increased.”
