Md. Ahidur Rahman from Netrakona
A climate dialogue titled ‘Climate Change: Crisis in Netrokona Region and Actions’ was held at Netrokona Sadar Upazila Auditorium in collaboration with BARCIK, a private research institute organized by Netrokona Sammilit Samaj recently.
Upazila Parishad Chairman Ataur Rahman Manik, Upazila Executive Officer Mahmuda Akhtar, Upazila Vice Chairman Abdul Khalek, Mahalia Vice Chairman Tuhin Akhtar, Upazila Agriculture Officer Sabina Yachmin, Upazila Youth Development Officer Gazi Mobarak Hossain, Upazila Project Implementation Officer Mizanur were present as guests in the dialogue. Besides, Laxmiganj Union Parishad Chairman Azharul Haque Tuhin, Challisha Union Parishad Chairman Mahabub Ul Majid, Kailati Union Parishad Chairman Nazmul Haque, Journalist Shyamlendu Pal and Khalilur Rahman Sheikh including other also were present in the dialogues and shared their views and concerns.
In the dialogue, the speakers said, “The amount of carbon in the atmosphere is increasing day by day, the atmosphere is getting warmer, natural disasters are increasing. As a result of these changes agricultural crops, food production, agricultural land, infrastructure, roads, natural environment got damaged and forests, wildlife and their habitats are disappearing. They went on saying, “Due to the changes jobs are disappearing and the climate displaced people also increased. In addition to that resource conflict among people has appeared which kill the social harmony among humans. The speaker said, “The climate change induced disasters such as floods, lightning, hailstorm, cyclone, landslide, less rainfall, low water level etc. have created negative impact on the lives and livelihoods of the people. Today there is crisis of drinking water is felt, Haor crop protection dam collapsed, , cold injury affected the crops and due to floods riverbank erosion occurred swallowing huge amount of agricultural lands.
In the discussion of the chief guest, Upazila Parishad Chairman Ataur Rahman Manik said that change should start from one’s own house. Such discussion should be done from the grassroots to the national level. Trees should be planted, awareness should be created. We will save nature, nature will save us. We also need to take initiatives to build the resilience of the affected communities.’
Parimal Sangma one of the affected farmers due to climate change said, ‘Fertility is being lost due to landslides, and hill sands in the agricultural land of Kalmakanda, cropland is getting filled with sand and farmers are losing agricultural land.’ ‘There is food and water shortage in village after village along the border. Haor’s crop protection dams are destroying, soil erosion are swallowing lands and infrastructure are being damaged in settlements due the climate change induced disasters. We have to play a role in protecting nature from our respective positions”-he added.
The agriculture official said, ‘We should find ways to adapt to the change, as we are being harmed globally, we are also harming ourselves. We have to take initiative to protect nature with our concerted efforts.’
Translated by Silvanus Lamin