Experts and politicians on Sunday underscored the need for a separate institutional structure for the development of char areas.

Speaking at the annual Regional Char Convention 2021, they also said the population of the country’s char areas often remains isolated and development benefits do not reach them adequately in many cases for many reasons, including poor infrastructure.

The experts suggested increasing allocation under the social safety net for the marginalised people in the char areas as they are the worst sufferers of the adverse impacts of climate change.

Also read: Proper steps urged for char areas’ development

SHOUHARDO III Program, funded by USAID, in association with the National Char Alliance (NCA) jointly organised the day-long event at Rangpur Dinajpur Rural Service, said a press release.

Dr Atiur Rahman, founding chair of the National Char Alliance and ex-governor of the Bangladesh Bank, emphasised establishing an institutional structure or a forum for the development of Bangladesh’s char regions.

Of the TK 1000 crore of the Social Safety Net, he said, only Tk 217 crore has been allocated for the char regions covering a population of only 94,000. “This allocation has to be increased.”

Deputy Minister for Water Resources AKM Enamul Hoque Shameem highlighted the development interventions by the government, especially by the Water Resources Ministry.

Also read:Call for inclusive approach for development of char regions

About the Mujib Fort (shelters), he said it is an innovative model where both people and cattle can take shelter during natural disasters.

Barrister Shameem Haider Patwary, MP, said, “We need to establish a semi-government Char Foundation/Board for the development of the char region. Uninterrupted policy interventions are also needed in this regard.”