Dhaka: State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Md Enamur Rahman on Wednesday said climate change is a major challenge for building safe and sustainable cities in Bangladesh.

He came up with the remark while speaking at a national dissemination workshop on ‘Safe and sustainable cities: Human securities, migration and well-being’ at the Cirdap auditorium.

Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) in collaboration with International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) and University of Exeter, UK organised the workshop, reports the UNB.

‘Millions of people have been displaced following climate hazard in Bangladesh. Climate change is also a challenge to human security. Many migrants of climate change from different parts of the country have been rehabilitated in Mirpur,’ the state minister said.

He said over 43,500 people of Naria and Zanjira upazilas in Shariatpur district were displaced due to river erosion last year. ‘The number of natural disasters like cyclone has seen a rise in the country due to climate change impacts.’

‘Now, we’re facing many challenges while providing urban facilities, including housing, water supply, sanitation and transport, to the dwellers of mega cities like Dhaka and Chattogram. As Awami League announced in its election manifesto to build modern and livable cities, the government is now working to make the cities safe and sustainable to achieve the SDGs,’ Enamur added. 

Attending the last session of the workshop, Planning Minister MA Mannan said Bangladesh has been facing so many challenges, but the country is developing in all sectors, including education, road and power. 

‘In the last 10 years, we could manage to bring changes to many things in our country. The country’s people want better cities, better water supply and we are trying to fulfill their basic rights,’ he said.

Tasneem Siddiqui, founding chairman of RMMRU, presided over the function while Professor Neil Adger of Exeter University, presented key findings of two researches.

ICCAD Director Dr Saleemul Huq, Social Development Adviser of DFID Bangladesh Anowarul Haq, Ricardo Safra De Campos of Research Fellow of the Exeter University and Senior Assistant Chief, GED, Planning Commission Shimul Sen were also present.