A group of environmental activists on Thursday (October 19, 2023) gathered in front of the Sheikh Jamal High School at Kamrangirchar in Dhaka and later held a boat rally to address issues concerning climate change and food security.
The programme took place in the capital city of Bangladesh to observe the Asia Day of Action on Food and Climate.
Organised by the Asia People’s Movement on Data and Development (APMDD), the programme was held in eight Asian countries including Bangladesh to highlight food security, the growing efforts of large multinational corporations to monopolize agri-food and the adverse effects of climate change on the people of Asia.
The event in Dhaka was jointly organised by Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Brote Center for Participatory Research and Development, Banalta Naree Songstha, Sundarbans o Upokul Surokkha Andolon, Equity BD, Nirapad Development Foundation, Global Law Thinkers’ Society, Nirapad Chikitsha Chai and Socheton Nagorik Somaj.
Speaking at the event, Sharif Jamil, coordinator of Waterkeepers Bangladesh; said that there is currently a lot of untimely rainfall, which scientists have been saying for a long time. Due to these erratic climatic events, agriculture is having severe impact. As a result, countries like ours are under threat of food security; he added.
“In such a situation, we call upon you to raise awareness through our programme. In addition to that, if the responsible countries wouldn’t come forward to provide the reparation to the victims of climate change, we are going to mobilize stronger movement to claim the reparation,” he said.
The event was attended by the Chairman of Nirapad Development Foundation Ibnul Saeed Rana, Executive Director of Socheton Nagorik Somaj SM Jahangir Adel, Md. Salim from Sishuder Muktobayu Sebon Songstha, Umme Salma of Nirapad Chikitsha Chai, Ishrat Jahan Lata of Banlata Naree Songstha and representatives of various social and environmental organisations.