British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson has said it is encouraging to see communities and local governments working together to construct climate-resilient infrastructure in Bangladesh.
“It helps people from vulnerable communities affected by climate change to come together and, with relatively modest support from others, undertake measures to improve their own lives,” he said.
The British envoy inaugurated climate-resilient community infrastructures in Cox's Bazar and Chattogram during his two-day visit to the two cities on February 27-28, as part of the Livelihoods Improvement of the Urban Poor (LIUPC) Project, financed by the UK Government together with the Government of Bangladesh and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Resident Representative of UNDP, Sudipto Mukerjee, Mayor, Chattogram City Corporation, Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Mayor, Cox's Bazar Municipality, Mujibur Rahman, National Project Director of LIUPCP and Joint Secretary, Md. Masum Patwary were present, amongst others.
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After visiting the communities and inaugurating the climate-resilient infrastructures, the High Commissioner said, "I am very impressed by this programme.”
During his two-day visit, he said, they have seen how this can transform the living conditions of poor people.
“The programme demonstrates best practices that can be taken up elsewhere in Bangladesh and in other countries directly affected by climate change. The UK Government is proud to provide funding and work in partnership with UNDP and the Government of Bangladesh," said the envoy.
Sudipto Mukerjee said they maintain a strong commitment towards the urban poor population across Bangladesh, with a key objective of ensuring sustainable improvements in their livelihoods and living conditions.