The 8th Urban Dialogue, among the actors who are linked with urbanization, was held at the Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate building of Dhaka University on Tuesday (May 28).

The daylong dialogue was jointly organized by Urban INGO Forum, a forum constituted with 20 national and International Non-Govt Development organisations, and Department of Disaster Science and Climate Resilience of Dhaka University.

In the program, Dr A S M Maksud Kamal, Vice chancellor Of DU, presided over the program as a keynote speaker while Atiqul islam, mayor of Dhaka north city Corporation was present as chief guest.

Dr. Liakath Ali, director of climate change programme at Brac, Manish Kumar Agarwal, country director of Concern worldwide, and Raihan Mahmood Kadery, Country Manager of Global one Bangladesh were also present as special guests at the program.

While delivering the speech of keynote speaker, Prof. Maksud Kamal said, “Sustainable development is impossible without innovation. For sustainable innovations mutual collaboration, cooperation and partnership among concerned ones would be enhanced."

Addressing the challenges of climate change researchers, stakeholders, city corporations, NGOs, public-private organizations and policy-makers, be called on all to work together for urban development in a planned way.

“Climate change is a threat to mankind. Developing countries like Bangladesh and poor countries have badly been affected due to this," he added.

Speaking as the chief guest, Mayor Atiqul Islam said, “Developing and poor countries have suffered immensely due to the corona epidemic, climate change and ongoing wars in different countries. Developed countries are mainly responsible for carbon emissions and climate change. They must take responsibility and give compensation to affected countries.”

He urged city dwellers to be more conscious of protecting our environment and working collectively to face the challenges arising due to climate change.