KHULNA, May 6, 2022 (BSS) - Speakers at a daylong seminar here on Thursday
(Yesterday) demanded on sustainable development considering the protection of
environment.

"We want long-term sustainable development to turn Bangladesh into a
developed country by 2041, dreamt by the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,
considering protection of environment so that we can face adverse impact of
climate change," they remarked at the seminar style "Impact on Climate Change
at the coastal areas and our duty" held at the auditorium of Mozzaffar Garden
in Satkhira.

Senior Secretary of Public Affairs Ministry K M Ali Azam addressed the
seminar as the chief guest with Khulna Divisional Commissioner Md Ismail
Hossain in the chair.

Demanding scientific-based research to face the impacts on climate change,
speakers said combined efforts can protect the Sundarbans, the world's
largest and only mangrove forest.

The chief guest said government has taken huge saline tolerable projects in
the coastal areas of the country.

"The government has taken initiative to implement the Delta Plan, led by
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, which was approved in 2018 with a view to
achieving sustainable economic growth and sustainable environment through
long-term food security and sound water resource management," they said.

"We've set a target to provide employment around 1.19 crore people to climate
adaptation and we dreamt to change the country a developed one side by side
change its people fate," the speakers added.

Public Administration Ministry organised the seminar in cooperation with
Administrative Convention Center in Khulna City.

Professor Dr Selimul Haque, director of Bangladesh Center for Climate Change
and Development, presented the keynote paper at the seminar while Professor
of Urban and Rural Planning (URP) Discipline of Khulna University (KU) Dr Md
Zakir Hossain and Associate Professor of Science, Environment and Technical
University of Jashore Dr Moumita Chowdhury were present as discussants.

Project Director of Administrative Convention Center Abu Saleh Monjurul Alam
delivered the welcome speech.

Dr Selimul Haque, also an environment scientist, said although Bangladesh
turned a resilient country, some coastal areas of its are now most vulnerable
zone due to the climate impact.

He stressed the need for mass awareness of common people to adverse impact of
the climate change saying media, teachers and concerned professional bodies
and universities can play vital role in this regards.

Terming Bangladesh will lead climate change adaptation globally, he said,
coastal zone including Khulna and Satkhira will turn Bangladesh into a
climate prosperous country.

All Deputy Commissioners in Khulna division, Union Parishad (UP) Chairmen of
Satkhira and Khulna, Freedom Fighters, Journalists, Teachers, Upazila Nirbahi
Officers (UNOs), among others, attended the seminar.