The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

The recasting of 'climate change strategy and action plan' for mitigating Bangladesh's climate change challenges should ensure people's participation and involvement of political parties.

Twenty four NGOs and civil society organisations in addition to three regional bodies in an appeal to Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and British secretary of state for international development of the UK Douglas Alexander made the case asking their intervention in redefining the basic document.

The signatories in a press briefing in the city on Saturday launched the campaign formally.

They said, this document will provide the basis of the Multi- Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) for Bangladesh to be set up with British government initiative by December.

The Fund will be set up to support Bangladesh's efforts to overcome difficulties arising out of global warming and sea-level rise on the people's livelihood and its environment.

The British government originally asked Bangladesh government to prepare the strategy paper. But it finds now many shortcomings and given Dhaka 80 days to improve the document.

The signatories said since an elected political government is now very closer to power, the entire exercise should be left for review from local perspectives.

They said Bangladesh government is capable of managing the fund without leaving its operation to the World Bank (WB). They asked the parties to rescind the earlier decision of passing its management to the WB taken in Bangladesh climate conference in September last.

They sent copies of the plea to other British MPs and functionaries. They said the original country strategy and action plan was drafted by a group of consultants having working relation with the WB and it ignored many local issues.

They reflected the WB views and of those who pollute the environment focused mainly to adopting several projects. On the other hand, it has ignored basic issues such as forced migration, environmental refugees, socio-economic impact of sea- level rise and such other mitigation issues.