Staff Correspondent

Experts have stressed the need for vital role of media professionals in tackling misinformation in terms of reporting on climate advocacy in the country.

They also recommended more knowledge sharing on the climate action plan while addressing a seminar at the National Institute of Mass Communication (NIMCO) in the capital on Thursday.

NIMCO director general Nurun Naher Hena presided over the seminar titled'Media role in climate adaptation’ while Swedish Embassy first secretary Nayoka Martinez-Bäckström was guest of honor on the occasion.

CEGIS executive director Malik Fida A Khan, BNNRC chief executive officer Bazlur Rahman, and Youth Net Global executive coordinator Sohanur Rahman took part in the discussion.

Director General Nurun Naher Hena said that women and children are the worst victims of climate change in the coastal belt of the country.

“When the salinity increases in these areas, the community struggles for drinking water. We should focus on the allocation of climate funds based on assessments. The media should focus on data-based reporting and research to assess the needs of the victim communities,” she said.

The main discussant, Malik Fida Khan, said that Bangladesh has taken different action plans on climate adaptation, which should be implemented for the well-being of people.

Nayoka Martinez-Bäckström has called upon the media and green experts to work together on scientific research to bring out the real scenario of the climate change effect.

“Influential actors or actresses can be involved to inspire youths in climate action programs. We need collective effort to tackle the challenges of adverse effects on the environment,” she said.

NIMCO additional director general Faizul Haque, Sufi Zakir Hossain, Climate Change Journalist Forum president Kawsar Rahman, NIMCO directors Azizul Haque, Maruf Nawaz and Nazrul Islam were also present on the occasion.