News - Strengthen Bay of Bengal Regional Cooperation to Tackle Climate Change Problem

Dhaka, 20th June 2017. Today in a seminar held at Cirdap auditorium title “Climate Change: Bangladesh and Bay of Bengal Regional Cooperation” civil society leaders, policy makers and experts urged to strengthen Bay of Bengal or BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi sectoral Technical Economic Cooperation) regional cooperation to tackle climate change problem and also to use natural resources for common public good. The seminar was organized by an NGO (non-government organization) COAST (Coastal Association for Social Transformation) with the assistance from American Centre Dhaka.

The seminar was Chaired by Dr. Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmed Chairman PKSF, Chief Guest was Dr. Hasan Mahmud MP (Member of Parliament) Chairman Parliamentary Standing Committee on MoE&F (Ministry of Environment and Forest) and Chairman All Party Parliamentary Forum on Climate Change; Special Guests were Mr. Domang First Secretary Royal Bhutan Embessy; Mr Sanjay Vahsist Director Climate Action Network South Asia (CANSA), Dr. Kevin Adkin Climate Change Adaptation Advisor US Embassy; Mr. Kelly R Aryan Cultural Affairs Officer American Centre Dhaka; Mr. Sojib Ahmed from High Commission of India ; Mr. AHM Bazlur Raham BNNRC (Bangladesh NGO Network for Radio and Communication). The seminar was moderated by Rezaul Karim Chowdhury from COAST, key note presentation was given by Dr. Hasseb Md. Irfanullah, IUCN and Mr Syed Aminul Haque of COAST.

In key note presentation as Sayed Aminul Haque of COAST summarize the presentation from six writers of six Bay of Bengal regional countries, i.e., in respect of bio diversity management, mangrove management, solid waste management, surface water management, local level adaptation planning and in respect of community adaptations in Bay of Bengal countries like Bhutan, Mayanmar, Thailand, Srilanka, Nepal and Bangladesh has good examples in respect of tackling climate change problem. Dr. Hasseb Irfanullah from IUCN, given sets of examples adaptation technologies that Bangladesh now become as a capital of learning on community level adaptation. He also said that this is a knowledge based monitoring and learning process in long run that Bangladesh has to live with spirit of adaptation.

Mr. Sanjay Vahsist from CANSA said that cooperation in respect of agriculture technologies, water security and energy management should be priority agenda in the region for cooperation. There should be long term planning and cross boarder level coordinated action. Dr. Qazi Kholiquzzaman the Chair of the seminar said that SAARC has already three important declarations in this regard especially Dhaka, Thimpu and Bhutan declaration on climate change, but there are little on practical actions, countries has to give importance on these. Dr. Hasan Mahmud said as the region and country do like to get rid of fossil fuel based energy production, the region especially the country like India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan has enormous opportunity on joint project for hydro electricity production, which is a necessity for economic growth thereby poverty alleviation of the region.

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