“Migration is now a common phenomenon. Push factor and the pool factor are mainly responsible for migration. In addition, climate change-induced migration is creating a new crisis that will continue to increase the number of forced migrants. We need to be prepared in advance to deal with this. We need to think about how we can help those who are forced to migrate for various reasons. They need to be empowered in the way their human rights are protected. In this case, Bangladesh government has initiated the Delta Plan.
Dr Saleemul Huq, Director of International Centre for Climate Change and Development made the remarks while speaking at a seminar titled “Addressing Climate Change-Induced Migration in Bangladesh: Taking a Human Rights-Based Approach” organised by ActionAid Bangladeshon Tuesday.
He lauded ActionAid’s initiative in addressing climate change, saying, “This is not just a issue of Bangladesh, it’s a global issue.” In consultation with the public, private and civil society, we can raise the issue in international conferences, including the COP conference, on the basis of research data, so that the way is paved for resolving the issue at the international level. He called upon for more work to be done at the local level to prevent any migration due to climate change. Meanwhile, he advised to continue the awareness activities of ActionAid Bangladesh from the grassroots to higher levels, said a press release.
The seminar also highlighted the results of a research conducted on migration due to climate change in Khulna, Chittagong, Sunamganj, Naogaon and Dhaka districts. Some recommendations were also placed according to the findings of the study. According to the study, conflict is not the cause of the large number of migrants in different countries of the world. More people are migrating due to climate change.
To prevent this migration, the study called for ensuring basic rights and services, ensuring social security, launching multidisciplinaryinformation service centers, developing skills, investing transparently in the sector, and formulating national immigration policies.
MdMizanulHoqueChowdhury, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in his speech said, "The government is aware of the kind of migration that is taking place due to climate change." We have data on this. Regular meetings are being held with the upazila administration and NGO representatives at the local level in this regard. Displaced people were given loans from the government, but many came to Dhaka with the loans they taken. We have to reach out to people in a joint effort to mitigate the issue.”
While delivering her speech, Farah Kabir, Country Director, ActionAid Bangladesh, said, “We are trying to improve the livelihoods of climate induced migrants at individual and collective levels. Without a concerted effort and roadmap, it is not possible to tackle climate-induced migration.
She added, "Bangladesh is currently undergoing some positive changes. We need to make sure that our development does not become a threat to the environment and climate. She also stated that climate change would not benefit anyone but would affect everyone.
Atiq Rahman, Executive Director, Bangladesh Center for Advanced Studies; Jessica Faleiro, Project Coordinator, ActionAid International; and Golam Rabbani from Climate Bridge Fund were present among others in the seminar.
