DHAKA, Oct 26, 2022 (BSS) - Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin today said the government is implementing multifaceted measures to deal with climate change risks in the Sundarbans region.
 
“To protect people's lives during the cyclone and water surge, the government is creating a green belt through massive afforestation along the coast.  So far 2,277 square kilometers of char has been brought under afforestation coverage in the coastal area,” he said while speaking at a national dialogue at the Parliament Members Club auditorium of the Jatiya Sangsad here.

 Addressing as the chief guest, he said 52 percent of the Sundarbans has been declared as a protected area and all types of forest resource extraction has been banned from it.

Shahab Uddin said various initiatives, including declaration of sanctuaries, have been taken to protect wildlife, including tigers, deer, dolphins and crocodiles, in the Sundarbans.

In addition, he said, schemes related to capacity building of local communities, poverty alleviation and human resource development have been undertaken.
 
Four new ponds were created and 84 ponds have been re-excavated for drinking water for various foresters, forest workers and wildlife inside the Sundarbans, the minister said. 

He said: “If the government as well as all concerned work together, we will be able to reduce the risk of climate change in the Sundarbans coastal area”.

Deputy Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Habibun Nahar; Mir Mostak Ahmed Rabi, MP, Syeda Rubina Akter, MP; Gloria Sarkar Jharna, MP; and Sharif Jamil, General Secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon, among others, spoke at the meeting with Sundarbans and Coast Protection Movement President Nikhil Chandra Bhadra in the chair.

Executive Director of LEADERS Mohan Kumar Mondal presented a keynote paper.
Representatives of the southwest coastal area, non-governmental organisations, donor agencies, researchers, civil society and mass media were present at the dialogue.