The participants in the Climate March held today in Rajshahi city demanded drought fund and climate justice to the rich countries in the upcoming Climate Change Conference (COP-28) to be held in Dubai, UAE. At the same time, they also urged to reduce the use of fossil fuel to control the global warming. The participants made these demands in a Climate March held at Saheb Bazar Zero Point in Rajshahi today (November 21, 2023) organized by BARCIK and Barendra Youth Forum.
However, the Climate March started from Zero Point in Rajshahi to Kumrapara in Monichtwar circumambulated the main roads and came to Barakuthi Mukta Manch and ended with a short meeting. Mizanur Rahman, Chairman of Save the Nature and wildlife Society, Sekender Ali, General Secretary of Business Union Council, Md. Shahidul Islam, Researcher of Development Research Institute of BARCIK, Freedom Fighter Researcher Waliur Rahman Babu and leaders of various youth organizations of Barendra region were present in the Climate March. Barendra Youth Forum Publicity and Campaign Secretary Atiqur Rahman Atiq moderated the program.
The discussants in the Climate March mentioned that the poor countries suffer much due to the climate change though they are not responsible. It is the rich countries who are more responsible for climate change. They said that the negative effects of climate change are creating regional crises. Drought, lack of rain and intensive heat created major problem in the life and livelihoods of the communities living in the Barind region, located in the northwestern part of Bangladesh. Drought has exacerbated water scarcity across the region along with the reduction of agricultural land. They further mentioned that drought has reduced the self-employment of marginalized people and they are compelled to migrate to other areas, mainly cities in search of a living. But even there these people are being deprived of various rights and services. Drought and water shortages in the region have led to increased social violence as well. Even it has been reported that farmers have committed suicide due to not having water for cultivation! But despite these climate driven negative effects in the Barind region there has been less focus in policy-making level to address the very problems.
Savitri Hembram, general secretary of Varendra Youth Forum, gave a welcome speech in the Climate March stating that due to the negative effects of climate change and drought, the problems of indigenous people living in the region are increasing. Water crisis is one of the burning problems for this communities.’ ‘Due to having no access to water some farmers of this community have committed suicide recently’-she added. She demanded to take necessary action to implement good governance for water.
Varendra Youth Forum president Shaikh Tasneem Jamal while delivering the original declaration of the Climate March said, ‘The climate change conference (Cop) of global leaders and policymakers, ‘Cop-28’, is going to be held in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. I would like to place some demands of the people in the Barind region to the policy makers and world leaders to take actions addressing our climate change related problems.’ He announced the 5-point demands from the Climate March. The 5 point demands are seen below:
- Decide to ensure climate justice and solution of water crisis for Bangladesh in the COP-28.
- Take speedy measures to exempt climate fund announced for Bangladesh.
- Ensure good governance in water management on an emergency basis in Barind region to combat drought.
- Form a separate ‘Drought and Climate Fund’ for Barind region and introduce ‘Drought Allowance’ for the climate affected communities in the Barind region.
- Phase out the use of fossil fuel to limit global warming.
