Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, said on Wednesday that the government is working to develop for understandable early warning system to avoid loss of lives and livelihood of people in the natural calamities.

She urged all stakeholders to actively contribute towards developing an effective hydrological status and outlook system.

Speaking as the chief guest at a stakeholders’ consultation workshop titled "Early Warning for All through Hydrological Status and Outlook System" held at Pan Pacific Sonargaon in Dhaka, said a media release signed by Dipankar Bar, Public Relations Officer of the ministry. 

The adviser stressed that early warnings are a vital part of building resilience. A robust hydrological system, she noted, would allow for better forecasting of potential disasters, enabling proactive measures to protect lives, property, and natural resources.

She emphasized that the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable communities are at constant risk due to climate hazards, making it essential to have an efficient early warning system.

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Rizwana also said real-time information of upper riparian countries is highly required in this regard and highlighted the need for collaboration between government agencies, scientific communities, and local stakeholders to develop an inclusive system that serves all, particularly the most vulnerable.

She called for a unified approach in implementing an early warning system that is both accessible and effective at local and national levels.

Md Ashraf Uddin, Secretary, Ministry of Defence presided over the workshop. Kamrul Hasan, Secretary Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief; Md Nazmul Ahsan,  Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources and Dr Hwirin Kim, Head of Hydrology and water Resources Division, WMO also spoke as special guests. Senior officials from the Ministry, representatives from government agencies, NGOs, and international partners participated, discussing the challenges and opportunities of building a robust early warning mechanism for hydrological hazards.

Read more: Bangladesh lauded for commitment, measures to fight climate change effects

Earlier, the adviser inaugurated joining online the training on the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Policy on Programming and Operations held at Gazipur.