Sabbir Alam Babu, Bhola

In the seminar titled "We want rights-based protection policies and local management is essential for climate change refugees" held at the Bhola Sadar Upazila Administration Conference Room under the initiative of Coast Foundation, the speakers presented various recommendations to the government to deal with the climate displacement problem, among them, the local.

Assessing the actual risk of displacement and formulating and implementing short and long-term adaptation programs based on regional studies, creating databases identifying displaced persons and adopting sustainable resettlement programs for them on a priority basis, sustainable coastal protection in response to climate impactsConstruction of infrastructure [Beribadh] etc.

Mr. Md. Touhidul Islam, Upazila Executive Officer, Bhola Sadar was present as the chief guest in the seminar, Mr. Md. Riaz Uddin, Upazila Agriculture Officer, Mr. Md. Moshiur Rahman, Upazila Project Implementation Officer, along with affected climate displaced persons from various unions were present. People,Journalists, civil society representatives and others were present.

Speakers in the seminar said that the number of displacements in Bhola due to river erosion is increasing alarmingly, if adequate preparations are not made from now, it will take a dire shape in the future. Bhola's volume has halved in the last 53 years. In 1960, the area of 6,400 square kilometers was reduced to 3,400 square kilometers due to continuous erosion of the Bhola river.

In the last 10 years, about 8-10km of different places of Bhola Sadar Upazila have been submerged and thousands of families have been displaced. Being desperate, they are becoming urban and living inhuman life by sheltering in slums, although the government has done some shelter projects, the urge to live is forcing them to become urban, so they emphasize on creating local employment. They also said that it is sad that the government does not have any separate data base or statistics to accurately identify the climate displaced people.

In this regard, the field level data on displacement through the local level such as Union and Ward Disaster Management Committee under the supervision of the Ministry of Disaster Management and ReliefAs collection and updates can be made, shelter projects are being implemented in places where displaced people are facing various human rights challenges, especially in pastoral areas, it is important to consider measures for their protection and sustainable resettlement initiatives.