The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Political leaders, academicians and environmentalists at a seminar on "Climate Change and Human Rights: The Global Context" said there is no alternative to political unity in the country to save ourselves from the adverse impacts of climate change.

All, irrespective of parties and ideals, the speakers said, will have to raise voices together to press demands for compensation to adapt to the detrimental impacts of climate change.

South Asia Watch (SAW), an international organisation for human rights, organised the seminar at the National Press Club in the city with Dr Shahid Uddin Ahmed, former Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University (DU), in the chair.

Whip of the Parliament ASM Firoze was the chief guest at the seminar which was addressed, among others, by BNP Standing Committee member Lt Gen (Retd) Mahbubur Rahman, environment specialist Dr Mizanur Rahman, Professor of North South University, Maj Gen (Retd) Subid Ali Bhuiyan and Rezaul Hossain Tapan, Chairman of SAW, Europe chapter. SAW Secretary General Shahidul Islam Talukder presented the key-note paper.

ASM Firoze said we all, forgetting parties and ideals, should come in one platform to face any threat against the country.

He emphasised on cooperating with US citizens in campaigning to collect funds for adapting the impacts of climate change.

Lt Gen (Retd) Mahbubur Rahman, "It is the question of our survival. We are gradually heading towards the Doomsday".

The people of all ideals and parties will have to be united and move in this regard, he said.

The southern part of the country will go under the sea within the next 50 years. If the country does not exist, then how can the parties?, he posed the question.

Mizanur Rahman said fund collection is not the real problem, rather utilisation of the fund will have to be ensured. The fund have to reach the climate change affected communities.

He suggested creating awareness among the US citizens about adverse impacts of the climate change in the Third World countries, specially Bangladesh.

Citing examples of different developed countries, Rezaul Hossain Tapan urged the Government to make circular roads- inner and outer circular- around the Dhaka city to reduce traffic jam in the capital.

Sadek Khan stressed on giving attention to internal environment pollution besides the impacts of climate change, which causes the developed countries' carbon emission.