Speakers at the 5th Annual Coastal Children’s Climate Conference held on Thursday (December 18) in Khulna said Bangladesh’s southwest coastal region is among the most climate-vulnerable areas in the world.
They noted that frequent cyclones, rising salinity, erratic rainfall, heat waves and urban waterlogging are severely degrading the socio-economic condition of the region, reducing livelihood opportunities, increasing unemployment and accelerating migration from coastal areas to cities. Life for people, especially children, in urban slums linked to coastal migration was described as particularly dire.
The speakers also pointed out that children constitute a major portion of the country’s population and are among the most vulnerable groups to disasters and climate change impacts.
However, they said children have historically been excluded from disaster risk reduction and climate change discussions, planning and implementation processes. The conference further highlighted that early marriage, driven largely by economic hardship, remains prevalent in coastal areas and poses long-term social and health risks, particularly for adolescent girls.
The conference was organised by Khulna-based non-government organisation Jagrata Juba Shangha (JJS) at the CSS Ava Centre under Sadar thana in the city.
A large number of coastal adolescents, civil society representatives, academicians, NGO workers and media personnel participated in the event. The programme was supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and Kindernothilfe (KNH).
Vice-Chancellor of Khulna University (KU) Prof Dr Md Rezaul Karim attended the event as the chief guest.
Deputy Director of the Women Affairs Office, Khulna, Suraiya Siddiqa; Consultant and Urban Planner of Khulna City Corporation Md Ferdous Hussain; Convener of Khulna Press Club Md Enamul Haque; Head of Secretariat of CBF Dr Md Golam Rabbani; District Secondary Education Officer Md Sayedur Rahman; and District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Md Abdul Karim were present as special guests.
Conference Coordinator and Executive Director of JJS ATM Zakir Hossain presided over the programme.
Program Manager of the SCVL project of JJS, Nabo Kumar Saha, delivered the welcome address, while Senior Director (Programme) of JJS MM Chishty conducted the event.
Prof Dr Anjum Tasnuva of the Institute of Disaster Management (IDM) at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) and Executive Director of AOSED Shamim Arefin also spoke at the conference.
No comments: