The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Experts and civil society representatives at a press conference in the city said that in Bali Conference industrial countries ignored the future of the LDCs (least development countries) including Bangladesh by giving priority to commercialisation over climate.

Although Bangladesh was the most affected country due to global climate change, but representatives from Bangladesh government failed to represent the real scenario of the country in the Bali Conference. Therefore, they did not get any compensation from developing countries, they said.

The press conference on 'Commercialisation of Climate in UN Climate Conference in Bali and Ignoring the interest of LDCs' jointly organised by Coast Trust and Equity and Justice Working Group (EJWG) at Dhaka Reporters Unity yesterday.

Md Shamsuddoha, researcher, presented key-note paper, while Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Convener of EJWG, among others, spoke at the conference.

Speakers said climate change is a severe problem for the country so that all including political leaders should play their role in this regard. "We hope political parties will include the issue in the next election manifestoes," they said.

The government, which expected adaptation fund and compensation from the industrialist countries, could not get 100 per cent. For this reason, the government should take early step to reduce loss and overcome the situation by using effective technological development, they urged.

Bangladesh is going to be cheated in the name of 'Adaptation Fund' in case of climate change like as the country was being cheated in the name of 'Aid for Trade' in the international discussion of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). For this reason, the government should take initiative to reduce emission of carbon, they added

The government should coordinate with the relevant ministry officials and experts during different negotiations at international level and create scope for them to take part in analysis, evaluation and continuity of the issue in future, speakers said.

They urged the government to form a 'national public company' in coal and gas sectors, ensure local ownership and plan a long-term national energy policy.

Due to climate change migration has become necessary in the costal regions. Investment on vocational and women education should be increased so that migrated people could engage themselves while they come into metropolitan areas, they said.