Revise climate change action plan with more local input: Experts  

The existing climate change action plan needs to be revised with a greater degree of local expertise, in order to be more effective in coping with the adverse impacts of climate change in Bangladesh.
"The climate change action plan, which was prepared earlier, should be revised by local experts instead of foreigners," said noted climate expert Dr Ainun Nishat, Professor Emeritus of BRAC University.
All Party Parliamentary Forum on Climate Change in cooperation with UNICEF Bangladesh and Coastal Association for Social Transformation Trust (COAST Trust) organised the seminar titled 'Climate Change Impact in Coastal Bangladesh, Protecting Children, Adolescent and Youth: A Case Study from Monpura Island' at the Parliament Media Centre.
Deputy Speaker Fazle Rabbi Miah addressed as chief guest the function presided over by Dr Hasan Mahmud, the chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Environment and Forest Ministry.
Dr Mahmud said the Water Development Board has to be reformed to protect the country's coastal islands like Monpura, and haor areas. "They will have to come up with innovative technology, and listen to affected women, children, youths and local people."He said climate change is mainly responsible for the ongoing disaster in the country's Haor areas, according to a press release.
Dr Mahmud, also former environment minister said Bangladesh is an innocent victim of climate change. Yet the developed countries, who are mainly responsible for climate change, hardly deliver even the compensation funds they committed to Bangladesh.
Fazle Rabbi Miah urged all political forces to be united to save the country from any climate-related catastrophes.
Edouard Beigbeder, Country Representative UNICEF, urged the government to invest more for protection of children and youths, who are vulnerable to climate change in the country, particularly in the coastal areas.
Dr Sharmind Neelormi of Jahangirnagar University said the cyclone shelters should be equipped with more facilities for women
and girls.
Selina Chowdhury, Upazila Chairman of Monpura Island, said her island is the worst victim of climate change. The government must take action to save the island on priority basis, she demanded.
Sajib Uddin, a child from Monpura Island said they are losing all their dreams including their homestead and schools.
Jebunnesa Afroz MP (Barisal-5 constituency), Tipu Sultan MP (Barisal-3), Shaimum Sarwar Kamal MP (Cox's Bazar-3) and Nobi Newaz MP (Jhenaidah-3), also spoke at the
seminar.
The MPs stressed the need for increasing budgetary allocation for coastal protection focusing on children and the youth.
Mojibul Haque Munir of COAST Trust and AH Towfique Ahmed of UNICEF Bangladesh presented two separate keynote papers.    �UNB