ZCZC
BSS-31
DU-CLIMATE-STUDY
20pc areas of Dhaka City vulnerable to climate change: study
DHAKA, June 6, 2018 (BSS) – Around 20 percent areas of Dhaka city are
vulnerable to climate change of which 14 percent are flood prone area, 4
percent waterlogged while 2 percent is congested, said a study of Dhaka
University (DU).
The study was revealed today by Nazrul Islam Urban Studio of Dhaka
University’s Department of Geography and Environment with the assistance of
Bangladesh Climate Change Trust of Ministry of Environment and Forests.
Environment and Forests Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud addressed the
programme as the chief guest at Kazi Motahar Hossain Bhaban (Science Annex
Building) on the campus.
Speaking on the occasion Anisul Islam said, “Natural hazards caused by
climate change are a major challenge towards the development of Bangladesh.
We have to go forward collectively to overcome the challenges.”
Acknowledging the vulnerabilities faced by climate change migrants, Anisul
said, “Among all the climate migrants, river erosion affected people are
suffering the most. Every year around 5,000 hectares of land are inundated
and 50,000 families are affected because of natural disasters.”
Anisul stressed the need for intensifying further research, knowledge
management and identification of vulnerable areas to reduce the impacts of
climate change.
“The government wants to work with the people to solve the climate change
crisis. Non-government organizations and mass media have to play their due
role. Continuous research works should be conducted in this regard,” he
added.
Project Director of the research, professor Dr Nurul Islam Nazem presented
the summary of the research titled “Adaptation of climate change induced and
environmentally stressed internally displaced people to cities: a study on
the Dhaka metropolitan region” which was carried out for over two years.
The study revealed that damages to public infrastructure, water logging,
damages to crops, waterborne diseases, economic loss, communication cost,
problem of inconvenience and fatalities from lightening are the major impacts
from climatic hazards.
Polli Karma-Sohayak Foundation Chairman Dr Kazi Khaliquzzaman, Managing
Director of Climate Change Trust Dipok Kanti Pal, among others, addressed the
function while DU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Md. Akhtaruzzaman presided
over it.
BSS/ASG/MMN/ARS/1940 hrs