BNP acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Friday described Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's visit to Türkiye to attend the UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) as successful and fruitful.
“I think the visit was highly productive. The initiatives, vision and programmes of our Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and the important issues he raised to help restore and maintain global peace and stability were significant,” he said.
Rizvi also said the Prime Minister's proposals would help strengthen climate adaptation efforts if implemented.
He made the remarks at a press briefing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Friday morning after welcoming the Prime Minister upon his return from Türkiye after attending COP31.
A Turkish Airlines flight carrying the Prime Minister, his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and other members of the delegation landed at the airport at 5:40am.
Rizvi said the Prime Minister had travelled to Antalya, Türkiye, to attend the climate conference with a 21-member delegation.
World leaders, heads of government and state, and senior officials of various international organisations from different countries attended the significant global event, he said.
The BNP leader said Tarique presented five proposals on behalf of Bangladesh before world leaders, highlighting several important issues in his address.
He said the Prime Minister stressed the need for grants rather than loans to help vulnerable countries tackle climate change. “Climate-vulnerable countries need grants, not more loans that increase their debt,” he quoted Tarique as saying.
He had also called for international cooperation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and discussed related issues with the Australian Prime Minister, Rizvi said.
The five proposals covered climate financing, the need for grants instead of loans, financing for renewable energy and access to modern technology, among other related priorities, he said.
Rizvi said the proposals were considered crucial by relevant stakeholders for addressing the growing climate crisis and protecting countries from its adverse effects.
He noted that several European countries had experienced severe heatwaves this year, resulting in numerous deaths.
The global environment was gradually becoming warmer, making urgent and coordinated action necessary, the BNP leader said.
He also highlighted the Prime Minister's domestic initiatives, particularly the plantation of 25 crore trees over five years.
Rizvi said the programme had already begun, with around 3 to 4 crore trees planted in the past seven to eight months through various government and private institutions, schools and colleges.
Tarique presented these initiatives to demonstrate Bangladesh's commitment to addressing climate change and to highlight the steps the country was taking in line with commitments made by world leaders and international organisations, he added.