Climate change is having a severe impact on agriculture, food security, and livelihoods in Bangladesh, according to a Adviser to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Farida Akhter. This is demonstrated by the decreased spawning of Hilsa eggs this year due to irregular rainfall, she added. Akhter was speaking as the guest of honour at the 2nd Climate Justice Rally organised by Aamra (Dhara), a citizen organisation on environment and climate change, at the auditorium of Liberation War Museum in Agargaon in Dhaka on Saturday.   Interim government assumed responsibility, not power: Adviser Farida Akhter Addressing the issue, she mentioned that rivers are becoming obstructed due to encroachment and sedimentation, limiting the movement of fish. Additionally, roads constructed through wetlands, such as haors, are disrupting the ecosystem. She emphasised the need to dismantle such roads, if necessary, to restore the natural flow. Crony capitalism created an undemocratic attitude: Rehman Sobhan Kainan Houghton, Deputy Regional Program Director of Aamra (Dhara), said the new energy policy adopted by the interim government of Bangladesh is certainly promising. Bangladesh must transition to clean energy for a sustainable future. For this, we have to convert to renewable energy instead of fossil fuels. Houghton also expressed his delight at being associated with the Climate Justice Assembly and wished the event success.

Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter on Saturday said that the interim government assumed the responsibility that comes with the office they hold, not 'power', and would like to see political parties adopt a similar approach when they form government after elections.  She made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion titled “Mass Aspirations, Mass Uprising: Expectations, Achievements and Review of the Current Situation,” organized by Gana-Akangkha Mancha at the Dhaka Reporters Unity Auditorium in Dhaka.  Highlighting the need for national harmony, she said, "Divisions based on religious identity are undesirable—we need to unite as humans. Some recent incidents have led India to claim that our minority Hindu community is being persecuted. But we are not afraid of such propaganda, because the change we wanted to bring, our children have brought it. India could not stop our mass uprising.” Looking forward to next year with hopes for a better Bangladesh: Foreign Secretary "Our youth have successfully expelled fascist forces through a mass movements, achieving what no political party could," she also said. The adviser mentioned that protecting the sovereignty of Bangladesh is a shared responsibility  of every citizen, not just for the armed forces. Paying homage to the mothers of martyrs, she said, "In exchange for the blood of the children, we have achieved a new Bangladesh. It is heartbreaking that the list of martyrs continues to grow."  She also expressed the government’s commitment to expanding the agricultural sector, urging stakeholders to prioritize increased local production alongside imports. "Farmers must be included in statistical evaluations, not just agricultural products," she added.  ‘Fighting my own shadow,’ says energy adviser about bureaucratic challenges Speakers at the event underscored the need to ensure constitutional reforms that protect the rights and dignity of students, workers, farmers and the general public. They stressed the importance of drafting a constitution that reflects the principles of equality and justice.  The event was chaired by Abdul Majid Antar, convener of Gana-Akanksha Mancha and attended by key figures, including State Reform Movement Chief Coordinator Advocate Hasnat Qayyum, Dhaka University Associate Professor Dr  Samina Lutfa, Bangladesh Press Institute Director General Faruk Wasif and Rajshahi University Associate Professor Dr Golam Sarwar.

Adviser to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Farida Akhter, has said the interim government is working to control commodity prices, although matching them to production costs remains challenging. “Commodity prices are deeply intertwined with production costs and the overall market system. Due to this, price control has become a challenge for the interim government,” she said on Saturday. Farida was speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration of a national technical seminar on "Food Security and Health," held at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU). Bangladesh Society for Safe Food (BSSF) organised the seminar. BAU students can now submit complaints online and offline as university seeks to address past misconduct She identified feed as the primary barrier to reducing poultry prices. “We must ensure feed safety because unsafe feed leads to unsafe poultry,” she noted. The adviser also highlighted the harmful practice of using pesticides or toxins in fishing, posing significant health risks. She emphasised the need for stricter enforcement to penalise those engaging in this harmful method of fishing. “Food safety awareness is crucial across all sectors,” she urged. She underscored the importance of implementing the "One Health" approach, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health professionals. “One health can only be achieved through collaborative efforts,” she said. BSSF President Dr Md. Khaled Hossain presided over the event, while BAU Vice-Chancellor  Prof. Dr AK Fazlul Haque Bhuiyan offered patronage. The keynote was presented by Prof. Dr. Md. Mahmudul Hasan Sikder from BAU’s Department of Pharmacology, with Prof. Dr. KHM Nazmul Hussain Nazir from the Department of Microbiology and Hygiene serving as the event’s moderator.