‘Cox’s Bazar ecological balance under threat for Rohingyas’

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the environmental balance of Cox's Bazar is under threat as settlements are being established there for Rohingyas clearing hills and forests.

"For this (Rohingya presence) natural equilibrium is being destabilised in that area, settlements are being established in that area clearing forests and hills, as a result those areas are becoming insecure and risky too," she said.

The prime minister said this while inaugurating the 'Dhaka Meeting of the Global Commission on Adaptation' at Hotel Intercontinental.

Mentioning that Bangladesh has given shelter to this huge number of Myanmar nationals on humanitarian ground she said the country is stepping forward with a huge burden on its shoulder.

She said Bangladesh wants that the Rohingyas to return to their homeland as soon as possible. "The quicker they will return to their homeland, that will be better for Bangladesh and I believe that," she added.

Talking about adaptation, she said unless proper mitigation measures are in place, adaptation measures cannot be stretched without any limit.

"I must mention that there is limitation of adaptation. Unless proper mitigation measures are in place, adaptation measures cannot be stretched without any limit," she said.

She said that in this age of science - technology - innovation - finance there are enormous opportunity to address climate change.

"I call everyone for his/her awareness and respective responsibility to fight the adverse impacts of climate change," she said.

Marshall Island President Dr Hilda Heine, World Bank CEO and Global Commission on Adaptation (GCA) co-chair Dr Kristaline Georgieva, the current chair of Global Commission on Adaptation (GCA) and former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and Environment, Forests and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin also spoke at the programme.

Different sessions titled 'community dialogue', 'action tacks - mobilising accelerated adaptation and support', and 'mobilising a global audience - communication tools and events' will take place after the inaugural session.