Reviewing the draft NSMDCIID, they also stated that it should be prepared based on experience and focused on climate hotspots-based management strategies.
COAST Trust and CSRL (Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods) jointly organised the seminar at the Cirdap auditorium in the city.
State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Md Enamur Rahman, Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque and Additional Secretary of the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry Md Mohsin spoke at the event with Chairman of Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad in the chair.
In his speech, the state minister said, “We won’t wait for international fund or grant. We can do it by our own.”
He invited the civil society organisations (CSOs) to provide feedback and complete the document as soon as possible so that the government can start the implementation straightway.
Appreciating the initiative of such civil society dialogue, Dr Enamur pledged to address the CSO opinions and recommendations as soon as possible.
Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad viewed that preparation of the national strategy must focus on setting the priority areas and developing accordingly.
He also expressed the hope that the national strategy should be compatible to the government’s international negotiation strategy on displacement issues.
Dr Atiq Rahaman from BCAS, Gerry Fox from British Council and Prof Tasneem Siddique from RMMRU spoke as experts on the issue at the seminar moderated by Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Executive Director of COAST Trust.
Two keynote papers were presented at the seminar where Prof Tasneem elaborated the issues under the NSMDCIID and said the draft strategy fully followed the right-based approach.
In the other keynote presentation, Salehin (Advocacy officer from COAST) said the proposed national strategy of internal displacement management lacks a wider participation. “That’s why it might become a standalone policy document like other policies developed by consultants only.”
He proposed some specific recommendations to develop an effective and more adaptive and achievable strategic frameworks.
Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said, “From this roundtable, we’re trying to assist the government so that the policy can be more inclusive and result-oriented with area-based special solutions.”