Dhaka, 20 June 2017. Today in a seminar held at CIRDAP auditorium titled “Climate Change: Bangladesh and Bay of Bengal Regional Cooperation” civil society leaders, policy makers and experts urged to strengthen cooperation in the Bay of Bengal region or BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi Sectoral Technical Economic Cooperation) regional cooperation to tackle climate change problem and also to use natural resources for common public good. The seminar was organized by an NGO (non-government organization) COAST Trust (Coastal Association for Social Transformation) with the assistance from American Centre Dhaka.
The seminar was Chaired by Dr. Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmed, Chairman, PKSF (Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation), Chief Guest was Dr. Hasan Mahmud, MP (Member of Parliament), Chairman Parliamentary Standing Committee on MoE&F (Ministry of Environment and Forest) and Chairman, All Party Parliamentary Forum on Climate Change; Special Guests were Mr. Domang, First Secretary, Royal Bhutan Embessy; Mr. Sanjay Vahsist, Director, Climate Action Network South Asia (CANSA), Dr. Kevin Adkin, Climate Change Adaptation Advisor, US Embassy; Mr. Kelly R Ryan Cultural Affairs Officer American Centre Dhaka; Mr. Sojib Ahmed from High Commission of India ; Mr. AHM Bazlur Raham from BNNRC (Bangladesh NGO Network for Radio and Communication). The seminar was moderated by Mr. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury from COAST; key note presentation was given by Dr. Haseeb Md. Irfanullah, IUCN and Mr. Syed Aminul Haque of COAST.
In key note presentation, Sayed Aminul Haque of COAST summarized the presentation from six writers from 
six Bay of Bengal region countries, i.e., in respect of bio diversity management, mangrove management, solid waste management, surface water management, local level adaptation planning and in respect of community adaptations in Bay of Bengal countries like Bhutan, Mayanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh has good examples in respect of tackling climate change problem. Dr. Haseeb Md. Irfanullah from IUCN, gave examples of adaptation technologies and cited that Bangladesh has now become a capital of learning on community level adaptation. He also said that this is a knowledge based monitoring and learning process in the long run and that Bangladesh has to live with the spirit of adaptation.
Mr. Sanjay Vahsist from CANSA said that cooperation in respect of agriculture technologies, water security and energy management should receive priority as agendas in the region for cooperation. There should be long term planning and cross boarder coordinated action. Dr. Qazi Kholiquzzaman, the Chair of the seminar said that SAARC has already three important declarations in this regard, these are Dhaka, Thimpu and Kathmandu declaration on climate change, but they have little practical ramifications; countries have to give importance on these. Dr. Hasan Mahmud said as the region and the countries would like to get rid of fossil fuel based energy production, the region, especially countries like India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan have enormous opportunity on joint project for hydro electricity production, which is a necessity for economic growth and poverty alleviation of the region.
Please download related paper [Bangla press] [English press] [Summary Presentation on different writers of BIMSTEC Country by Syed Aminul Hoque of COAST] [Presentation on Climate Change Adaptation by Haseeb Md. Irfanullah of IUCN Bangladesh] [Climate change in the Bay of Bengal Region “Exploring Sectoral Cooperation for Sustainable Development”]
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