Rights activists on Friday held a rally in front of the Jatiyo Press Club(JPC) and arranged a Photography Exhibition at the Dhaka University (DU) remembering the April 29,1991 Cyclone that killed about half a million people when winds swept across the coastal areas at 225 km per hour speed whipping up sea surges.
The activists also stressed on protecting the coastal people and the land as a fundamental in its quest for climate adaptation with its own fund.These organizations also demanded that the government instead of waiting for foreign funds take immediate steps to construct embankments to protect the coastal people and the lands which should be a fundamental to the climate adaptation.
They criticized the government for over emphasising on infrastructure to export-led economic growth rather than giving importance to critical infrastructure to protect coastal people and the land, they have also demanded reforming the Water Development Board which is the responsible government agency to construct coastal embankments.
The rally in front of the JPC was organized by 16 coastal organizations, Uddipan, Uddayan Bangladesh, MMC, SDS, Coast Trust, Grameen Jono Unnayan Sangstha, Dak Diye Jai, Docap, Dwip Unnayan Sangstha, Nolchity Model Society, PHALS, Pirojpur Gono Unnayan Samity, PRAN, Prantojon, Sangkalpa Trust, Humanity Watch, the rally was moderated by Mostafa Kamal Akhanda of Coast Trust and addressed among others by Shawkat Ali Tutul, Zayed Iqbal Khan , Aminul Rasul Babul and Rezaul Karim Chowdhury.
Photography exhibition at the TSC with photographs of photographer Din M Shibly was arranged by Leaves and Branches, Dhaka University Photography Society, Dhaka University Environment Society, Dhaka University Cultural Society, Dhaka University Tourist Society, Environment Move, Coast Trust and EquityBD.
The photography exhibition titled a ‘Tale from Climate Ground Zero’ was inaugurated by the DU Pro- Vice Chancellor Dr Shahid Akhter Hossain.The function was addressed among others by Din M Shibly and Rezaul Karim Chowdhury from the COAST Trust. – Staff Reporter
Speakers at a human chain on the day urged the government to take immediate steps to construct embankments to protect the coastal people and land from natural calamities, unb news agency reported.
Sixteen rights groups formed the human chain in front of the Jatiya Press Club marking the devastating cyclone of April 29, 1991.
The speakers also demanded immediate reformation of the Water Development Board which is the responsible agency to construct coastal embankment.
The organisations include Uddipan, Uddayan Bangladesh, Coast Trust, Grameen Jono Unnayan Sangsta, Dwip Unnayan Sangster, Nolicity Model Society, Pirojpur Gono Unnayan Somitee, and Humanity Watch.
Meanwhile, seven organisations, including Dhaka University Photographic Society, Dhaka University Environment Society, Dhaka University Cultural Society, Dhaka University Tourist Society and EquityBD jointly organised a photography exhibition at Teacher-Student Centre of Dhaka University marking the April 29 cyclone.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the exhibition, titled ‘A Tale from Climate Ground Zero’, DU Pro-Vice-chancellor Dr Shahid Akhtar Hossain said the government needs to use its own resources to protect the coastal people and land.
Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of CoastBD noted that the country has the capacity to undertake sustainable embankment programmes in coastal areas with its own resources, but there are hardly any political will.
