The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Planning and the Environment are working together to hold a major international conference in Europe in late February to draw donors' attention to the effects of climate change on the country, official sources said yesterday.

The Government decided to hold the moot, titled as "International Conference on the Impact of Climate Change on Bangladesh" after three natural disasters, including two floods and the devastating Cyclone Sidr, last year, which together killed over 5,300 people, affected some 20 million people and caused 20 million tons shortage of rice production.

The Government and experts have blamed the changes in the global climate pattern for the disasters.

However, the venue of the conference has not yet been finalised. Any of three European centers-Paris, London and Brussels-would be the venue of the conference.

"We are looking for a venue in a major European Union or Scandinavian cities to hold the conference in late February. Paris, London and Brussels are our main options," a senior official said on condition of anonymity.

"We will highlight the impact of climate change on the country. We will give them a detailed picture on the issue and hope to get donors assurance to overcome the disasters in a sustainable way," he said.

The country has been one of the worst victims of changes in global climate system, with floods and cyclones becoming a permanent feature in its annual calendar, putting at risk the livelihoods of millions of its poor people.

A senior official of the External Relation Division (ERD) said the Government would present a number of papers at the conference, outlining the future impact of the climate change in the country and possible measures to protect millions of vulnerable people and the ecology.

"Our aim is now to build a sustainable protection against recurring natural disasters," he added.