Dhaka, 01 April 2012. Today in a seminar at Dhaka Reporters Unity, civil society groups urged to increase public investment to ensure primary health services and activate decentralized health service system all over the country. They also proposed to include displacement issue in safety net programs. The seminar title “Climate Change Strategic Plan 2009: Health and Social Safety Net” was organized by Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihood (CSRL) and Equity and Justice Working Group Bangladesh (EquityBD), two networks of civil society organizations. The seminar was moderated by Dr. M. Sohel Iqbal of EquityBD. Key note paper was presented by Syed Aminul Hoque, Secretariat Coordinator of EquityBD. Alhaz Prof. Dr. M. A. Mannan, MP and member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health Ministry was present in the seminar as Chief Guest. Md. Israfil Alam, MP and member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labor and Welfare Ministry, Dr. Nilufar Banu, Executive Director of BUP, Noman Khan of IED, Aminur Rasul Babul of Unnayan Dhara Trust, ASM Badrul Alam of Bangladesh Krishok Federation was spoken in the seminar.

In his key note speech, Syed Aminul Hoque stated that, in view of WHO research climate change will increase diseases up to 3-5% in Bangladesh. Government focus is a bit little on this issue neither in climate strategic plan, nor in 6th five year plan, and also in national annual plan. He mentioned that ensuring health services for the poor following MDGs will need to invest at least taka 16000 crore by government while the present allocation is only about 6000 crore per year which is less than 1% of GDP. It is very low compare to WHO proposed standard, which is 5 % GDP. He proposed regional level research on health and climate change correlation. He also mentioned that as there are 30 million people will be displaced due to climate change, and as it is already is being seen, the issue should be included in safety net program.

The Chief Guest, Alhaj Prof. Dr. M. A. Mannan, MP mentioned that Public Private Partnership (PPP) is important to promote services in health sector considering the climate change. He emphasized the necessity on dissemination of information on climate change up to the Upazila level for mass awareness.

Md. Israfil Alam, MP also focused on the resource limitation of government. He suggested increasing the funding on scientific research on climate change. He suggested to all parties to work together to meet the challenges of climate change in health sector. Dr. Nilufar Banu of BUP mentioned 60 % of women in the country suffer hemoglobin deficiency which causes high rate child and maternal mortality, government need to give attention in this regard.

In their speech ASM Badrul Alam, Aminur Rasul Babul, Noman Khan suggested the government to provide sufficient resources for scientific research, allocate at least 2% of GDP for health services, and decentralization of power and authority. They also advised to replicate the SriLanka model on health service.

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Dhaka, 24th March 2012. Today in a seminar civil society groups express worries on different in-consistencies prevailing in government’s six five year planning, budget 2011-12, country investment plan, perspective plan and climate strategic action plan 2009, especially in respect of government pledge to attain food self sufficiency. They have urged government to increase subsidy and investment in agro research and extension in respect of climate adaptation. The seminar title “Climate Change Strategic Plan 2009: Agriculture and Food Security” was organized by Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihood (CSRL) and Equity and Justice Working Group Bangladesh (EquityBD), two networks of civil society organizations. The seminar was moderated Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of EquityBD. Key note paper was presented by Dr. Nazrul Islam of Dhaka School of Economics, Shawkat Momen Sajahan, Member of Parliament and Chairman, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture Ministry was there as chief guest. Among other speakers of the seminars were, Dwip Ujjal Kisha of Bangladesh Indigenous People Network, Mizanur Rahman Bijoy of Network for Climate Change Network, Badrul Alam of Krishok Federation, Aminur Rasul of Unnayan Dhara, Syed Aminul Haque of EquityBD, Prodip Kumar Roy of On Line Knowledge Soceity, and Jibonanda Joyanta of SA Foundation.

Dr Nazrul Islam in his key note paper presented detail matrix of inconsistencies of different planning documents, he also mentioned that last year budget, investment in agriculture had declined 4.2 %. In view of people perception he proposed immediate enactment of land management policy and enhanced investment in agri research and extension in next year budget. Sayed Aminul Haque mentioned that control on utilization of land should be laid upon Agriculture Ministry, as it is now with Land Ministry which attitude only to increase revenue. Dwip Ujjal Kisha, demand stop land utilization in respect of tobacco cultivation, he urged to promote traditional practice of agriculture in hilly area. Mizanur Rahman Bijoy, expressed worried on little emphasize on local seeds preservation and promotion, as national and multi national companies occupying the seed market. Badrul Alam blamed that in fact government preparing all of these policies and planning in view of neo liberal agendas, in fact which is favor of west, the climate polluters who hardly willing to pay compensation. Aminur Rasul has mentioned that apart from inconsistencies there are lack of coordination and integration among different ministries in respect of effort to gain food self sufficiently. He expressed doubt whether the government will be able gain food self sufficiency by 2013 in view of their election pledge.

Chief Guest Memebr of Parliament and Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee Shawkat Momen Sajahan recognized that there should a reform on land ownership pattern, that it is the farmers should won all the agriculture land, he also acknowledge that the new Agriculture Policy should integrate the climate change adaptation and there should be immediate enactment of land management and utilization policy to stop irrelevant and unproductive use of agricultural land.

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Dhaka, 11 March 2012. Today in a national workshop held Dhaka speakers opined that, to make effective and sustainable plan regarding disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation, mass participation is must. They demanded separate climate commission to strengthen climate adaptive activities. They said that during the concluding ceremony of that two days workshop.
Minister for Forest and Environment Dr. Hasan Mahmud was present as the chief guest of the concluding ceremony. The program was moderated by the Executive Director of COAST Rezaul Karim Chawdhury. Among others Member Secretary of Unnayan Dhra Foundation Aminur rasul Babul, Executive Director of Bangladesh NGO Network for Community Radio (BNNRC) A H M Bazlur Rahman, Executive Director of Credit and Development Forum Abdul Awal, Executive Director or UDDIPAN Emranul Haque Chawdhury, Member of the Board of trustee of COAST Dr. Tofail Ahmed, Aus Aid Representatives (Ms. Amanda Jennings) were also present.
Dr. Sohel Iqbal of COAST Trust presented the evaluation of the moderators of respective moderators on the eight sessions held in the two days workshops. This presentation mainly focused on the learning and recommendations came from the two days workshops.
Aminur Rasul Babul said, without mass participation no development plan regarding climate adaptation can be effective and sustainable.
A H M Bazlur Rahman said, the slogan ‘think globally, act locally’ is null and void now, rather we have to keep in mind that, Think globally, act all level, but very carefully
Abdul Awal said, Already a large part of Bangladesh has been affected from various climate related disaster and various vulnerabilities have been increased. Food security is at stake now. To solve these problems political will and effective initiatives are must.
Emranul Haque Chawdhury said, Process and initiatives of the government on climate change should be reached to the mass people. Lesson on climate change can be added in the school curriculum. As the recommendation of the workshop he proposed Climate Commission to ensure effective coordination among different ministries’ and NGO activities. The recommendation also suggests that, the commission can play a vital role in ensuring transparencies of all climate funds.

Dr. Hasan Mahmud said, climate change issue is not a political issue. So we have been trying to ensure participation from experts to our national plan and international negotiation process without consideriung their political backgrounds. My ministry has introduced monthly public hearing. I believe that, we should work all together for the welfare of our people.
In concluding remarks Dr. Tofail Ahmad said, climate has already changed, we have to emphasize on climate adaptation. We should not think only funding, we have to think about knowledge. We have to refrain ourselves from degrading the climate furthermore.

It is to be noted that, the workshop titled Sharing understanding and identifying concern: Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) in Sustainable Development” was organized by the Bangladeshi member of the Asian Disaster Reduction and Response Network. The members are BPDC, COAST Trust, Dhaka Community Hospital and Dwip Unnayan Shongstha. This two days workshop was being organized to share macro and micro level experiences on DRR and CCA, about 200 representatives of 150 local organizations are participating in the program.

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