To deal with negative impacts of climate change and reduce disaster risk, a sustainable planning in the Jamuna-Brahmaputra river basin is needed, said speakers at a roundtable today.

The event was organised by Friendship, an international NGO.

Speaking at the event, Nazmul Ahsan, secretary of the Water Resources Ministry, drew attention of local and foreign development organisations to improve quality of life of char people.

Runa Khan, founder of Friendship, said, "In facing challenges of regular natural calamities and climate change, the people of Jamuna-Brahmaputra basin are deprived of development opportunities and their rights."

Eric Orsenna, chairman of Initiatives for the Future of Great Rivers, Kazi Amdadul Hoque, senior director of Friendship, and Marc Elvinger, chair of Friendship Luxembourg, among others, spoke at the roundtable.