Staff Correspondent

Speakers at a coastal climate dialogue on Sunday called for an all-party political consensus to address the growing challenges facing Bangladesh’s coastal region amid climate change and recurring natural disasters.

They said climate change was putting coastal livelihoods, biodiversity and ecosystems at increasing risk, while annual natural disasters were worsening the situation.

The speakers made the remarks at a ‘Coastal Climate Dialogue’ on Sunday organised by the Climate Action Forum at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University in Dhaka, ahead of the upcoming UN climate conference.

Vice-Chancellor of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University Professor Dr Md Abdul Latif inaugurated the programme. Climate Action Forum President Aminur Rasul chaired the event, while Nikhil Chandra Bhadra, coordinator of the Sundarbans and Coastal Protection Movement, moderated it. Assistant Professor and researcher at the university Mir Mohammad Ali presented the keynote paper.

Addressing the programme, Abdul Latif said the coastal region was facing severe challenges due to the adverse impacts of climate change. 

MP  Anisur Rahman Talukder Khokon said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had already taken initiatives to address coastal problems and tackle climate risks. He said the BNP's 31-point programme and election pledges contained clear commitments in this regard.

Revolutionary Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque proposed forming a parliamentary caucus on coastal issues to work both inside and outside parliament. 

Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BASAD) General Secretary Bazlur Rashid Firoz said equity for coastal communities must be ensured in government development activities.

Mohammad Shamsuddoha, Executive Director of the Centre for Participatory Research and Development (CPRD), said an all-party consensus on coastal and climate change issues was essential.