Dhaka, Mar 23 (Representative) Climate victims at a public hearing in Bangladesh blamed the rich countries for their sorry state caused due to negative effects of climate change. Thousands of families affected by floods, droughts, epidemics and natural disasters, gathered in Char area of Kamarjani union in Gaibandha district, the northern part of Bangladesh. They are affected by the negative effects of climate change. For this, they blamed the rich countries of the world, and hence demanded compensation for the damages. On Tuesday, a ‘climate public hearing’ was held at Chargram Kunderpara of Brahmaputra river in Gaibandha Sadar upazila about the condition of the people affected by climate change. Termed as a social action, the move, organized by Gana Unnayan Kendra (GUK) and South Asian Climate Change Journalists’ Forum (SACCJF), is apparently the manifestation of first show of climate-related protest in Bangladesh.State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Enamur Rahman, MP, was the chief guest at this public hearing.
Mahabub Ara Begum Gini, MP, Whip of Bangladesh Jatiya Sangshad, Deputy Commissioner of Gaibandha Md. Oliur Rahman and Kamal Hossain, Superintendent of Police, were the special guests. M. Abdus Salam, Founder and CEO of GUK, a local NGO of the area, presided it over.Moderated by SACCJF executive president Kermat Ullah Biplab, water and climate scientist Prof. Dr. Ainun Nishat, SACCJF President Ashish Gupta, author and researcher Prof. Zahurul Qayyum were on the panel of judges.After inaugurating the hearing at noon, the guests were greeted with flowers. Then M. Abdus Salam gave his welcome address. Later, the public hearing of Char residents affected by negative effects of climate change was held. At the end of the hearing, the members of the judges’ panel gave their verdict. After that, 12 men and women, affected by climate change, were given ‘Climate Warrior’ medals. While addressing, after distributing the medals, the speakers said that due to natural disasters caused by climate change, people of the coastal areas of Bangladesh and the river basins have suffered a lot.
In the last three decades, the people of these areas have been affected by storms, floods and river erosions. Greenhouse effect caused by rise in global temperature resulted in significant changes in the course of rivers such as sea level rise and loss of navigability of rivers. As a result, sea water is overflowing in coastal areas due to climate change. Millions of people have lost their livelihood due to frequent natural disasters like flood and river erosions every year.In the hearing, the affected local residents highlighted various issues of social and economic losses in 165 islands of Gaibandha including Kurigram and Lalmonirhat districts due to climate change effects. UNI Correspondent in Bangladesh Mir Afroz Zaman visited the affected areas in the northern region. He talked to the victims in the area. Talking to the UNI correspondent, Dr. Ainun Nishat said our neighbouring countries such as India, Nepal and Bhutan also faced the negative effects of climate change.