Speakers on Monday emphasised the proper implementation of Bangladesh Delta Plan (BDP) 2100 while highlighting its advantages and challenges the government could face.
The government approved BDP 2100 to harness the huge potentials of Bangladesh as a delta country through water resource management, ensuring food and water security and confronting disasters.Observations about BDP came from a seminar – Bangladesh Delta Plan: Implementation Challenges and Way Forward – arranged by Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) in collaboration with General Economic Division (GED) of Planning Commission at BIISS Auditorium.
Prime Minister’s Economic Affairs Advisor Dr Mashiur Rahman was the chief guest while Ambassador Munshi Faiz Ahmad, chairman, board of governors, BIISS chaired the event. BIISS Director General Major General AKM Abdur Rahman delivered the welcome speech and GED Senior Secretary Dr Shamsul Alam presented a keynote presentation.
“The Delta Plan will be revisited every five to 10 years and restructured accordingly,” Alam said, expressing high hopes regarding the projects to be undertaken as part of the implementation plan.“Eighty percent of BDP will be publicly funded,” he said. The goals set to be achieved as part of BDP 2100 include poverty elimination and achieving upper middle income status by 2030, and becoming a prosperous country by 2041.
Later a panel discussion commenced where Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary Abdullah Al Mohsin Chowdhury; International Center for Climate Change and Development Director Dr Saleemul Huq and Institute of Water Modeling (IWM) Executive Director Dr M Monowar Hossain engaged in a dialogue addressing economic considerations; safety from climate change related disaster; enhancing water security; ensuring sustainable and irrigated river systems; preserving wetlands and promoting their wise use. All these issues are related to BDP 2100.
Mashiur Rahman pointed out that cooperation among neighbouring countries, including India, Bhutan and Nepal, for executing projects under BDP could benefit all of them.Mentioning the advantages of using renewable energy for BDP, he said, “We have emphasised more on energy import but sat back on the water issue.”
He said the government should have proper water treaties with neighbours so that hydropower can be used for sustainable development. Mashiur said Bangladesh would face “several harsh impact of climate change” and pointed out various government initiatives to tackle them.
source: UNB
