Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan, Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University, has said the current generation's responsibility is much greater since they stand on the blood of martyrs, referring to the sacrifices made during the July -August movement.

"Our responsibility is much greater, and there is no opportunity for us to go back," said Prof Niaz.

He made this statement during a discussion titled "Citizens’ Thoughts on Addressing Climate Change in Post-July Uprising Bangladesh" organized by the Dhaka University Research Society at the RC Majumdar Auditorium on November 10.

He added, "Not only Bangladesh, but the whole world is in a state of crisis due to climate change. The challenges related to climate change are the same as before, but they have now taken on a new dimension. After a revolution, a country faces instability, and Bangladesh is no exception. Amid this, climate change presents a major challenge. We need to work on these challenges. Our responsibility is even greater now because we stand on the blood of the martyrs. There is no room for failure now."

He also stated, "We often say that Bangladesh and its people are resilient and can handle everything. But resilience has its limits. When repeated blows are dealt, resilience no longer works. Therefore, we must not tolerate the factors that negatively affect the climate; we must confront them."

Jabed Rasin, a member of the National Citizens' Committee, referred to climate change as both a political and a critical issue. He noted that coastal communities are suffering from the devastating effects of climate change, but the government has not implemented any projects to address this. Even when the government does create projects, local communities are not included in them.

He further commented, "In order to tackle climate change, we must ensure accountability regarding where the money for climate-related projects is being spent. The Department of Environment is not doing anything about waste management, simply issuing permits to fulfill their duty."

SM Farhad, General Secretary of the Dhaka University branch of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, emphasized that climate change is a global issue. He stated that if corruption persists and accountability is lacking, combating climate change will be impossible.

To address climate change, Umama Fatema, a key coordinator of Anti-discrimination Student movement suggested that the government focus on recovering the 700 rivers that have been lost to Bangladesh. He said, "The government's plans are centered around urban areas, and they do not focus on rural areas. Furthermore, the government needs to stop unchecked industrialization."