Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday (May 15, 2023) apprehend that frequent climate-induced disasters may disrupt Bangladesh’s smooth transition from the LDC to developing country. “Bangladesh has been recommended for graduation from the LDC by 2026. However, the frequent climate-induced disasters may disrupt our smooth transition. Climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction are, therefore, policy priorities of my government,” she said. The Prime Minister expressed her apprehension in her pre-recorded video speech that was played in the 79th Annual Session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) on "Accelerating Climate Action in Asia and the Pacific for Sustainable Development" held in Bangkok, Thailand. Also Read: Almost 3000 shanties damaged, but Rohingya camps spared the worst of Mocha She said that Bangladesh has been hosting 1.2 million forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals. “Their overdue presence not only poses a serious security threat but also triggers a severe environmental degradation,” she said. She reiterated her call to take concerted efforts to send them back to their homes in Myanmar.  Hasina put forward four proposals for UNESCAP for the betterment of the world to face the climate change. Read More: Climate Change: Leaders gather at annual UN policy forum in Bangkok to tackle the most daunting threat The proposals are: -Climate-vulnerable developing countries, especially in Asia and the Pacific, require adequate finances to implement their NAP as well as to achieve NDC targets. -International Support Measures of knowledge sharing, technology transfer and innovation-driven trade and investment are to be placed for transition towards climate resilience growth for the graduating countries. -Trade facilitation measures, digital trade and IT-enabled services should be available in the developing countries to deal with the Fourth Industrial Revolution and mitigate the challenges of climate change. -Sub-regional cooperation is to be strengthened, especially accelerating the current partnership and developing new partnerships, for promoting the climate actions for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific. The prime minister said that climate change is the real challenge of this time. The Asia and Pacific region, home to 60 percent of the world's population, is highly vulnerable to climate change. Also Read: Cyclone Mocha: 10,000 houses damaged in Cox's Bazar, inc 1200 in St Martin She said that this region is facing natural calamities like floods, cyclones, heat waves and droughts in an increased rate due to the impacts of climate change affecting lives and livelihoods. PM Hasina mentioned that Bangladesh is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world although its contribution to global emission is very negligible. “Our development programs, therefore, focus on addressing climate-resilient development efforts,” she told the conference. She said that her government has established 'Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund in 2009’ to help vulnerable communities. About 851 projects costing around half a billion US dollars have so far been executed under the fund. Read More: Many countries can learn from Bangladesh’s approaches to reducing poverty, empowering women, adapting to climate change: WB President In October 2022, she said, Bangladesh has submitted the National Adaptation Plan-NAP to UNFCCC. It has identified 113 interventions across 8 priority areas with a costing outlay of around 230 billion US dollar up to 2050. “Bangladesh has also submitted an ambitious and updated Nationally Determined Contributions-NDC to the UNFCCC in 2021.” She mentioned that the government has adopted the 'Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100', a 100-year strategic plan, for achieving a safe, climate-resilient prosperous delta. She said that Bangladesh is also implementing the 'Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan spanning from 2022 to 2041 with the vision of setting Bangladesh's development trajectory from vulnerability to resilience. “Let us join our hands together to consolidate our partnership to fight against the perilous threats of Climate Change and make the world a safer and better place for our future generation,” she said. Read More: Fakhrul slams govt for alleged inaction on climate change impact

It is irrational to compare Bangladesh’s situation with the internal crisis of Sri Lanka, said LGRD Minister Md Tajul Islam on Friday. He made this remark at the concluding ceremony of the two-day ‘Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 International Conference: Issues and Challenges of Implementation’ held at Hotel Pan Pacific Sonargaon in the capital. Also read: Bangladesh well-placed among Asian nations in terms of foreign debt: LGRD Minister The economic situation of Bangladesh has changed a lot. Per capita income and purchasing power have increased, he said. The minister further said many developed countries and foreign companies are investing in the country amid economic growth under the leadership of the prime minister. Tajul said Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 adopted by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been formulated with the overall cooperation of the Netherlands in the light of their Delta Plan. The main goal of the Delta Plan is to transform Bangladesh into a prosperous and self-respecting nation. If implemented, the next generation will get a sustainable developed country. “We need the support of our development partners to implement the Delta Master Plan,” he said, urging the development partners and organisations, including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), to stand by Bangladesh. Also read: Bangladesh on verge of collapse like Sri Lanka: Fakhrul A letter of intent (LOI) was signed between the LGRD ministry and the Government of the Netherlands on Thursday as part of the implementation of Delta Plan 2100. Through the LOI, the Dutch government will conduct piloting activities in Raozan of Chattogram and Keshabpur Municipality of Jashore to combat the effects of climate change, said the minister. The experience from the pilot project will be used to address climate risk in more than 100 municipalities in the future, he added.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said her government will do everything necessary to ensure the civic and democratic rights of the people.

Bangladesh and Netherlands on Thursday discussed ways to have broader collaboration as demand for safe and quality agro commodities, clean energy and resilient infrastructure will rise in the coming decades.

The government is going to focus on agriculture as one of its prioritised sectors under a 2020-2023 mid-term plan in an effort to bring the Covid-hit national economy back on track fast.   According to a government document, the allocation in agriculture sector till 2022-23 fiscal starting from the running 2020-21 fiscal will go up to Tk 941.81 billion.   Of the total amount, the allocation for this fiscal has been fixed at Tk 270.18 billion while that for 2021-22 and 2022-23 fiscal years at Tk 320.07 billion and Tk 351.57 billion respectively.   The allocations for 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 fiscal years were Tk 191.26 billion, Tk 250.62 billion and Tk 299.80 billion respectively.   The document says the agriculture, which is contributing more than 13 percent to GDP, is playing an important role in bringing the economic prosperity to rural people through creating job opportunities and boosting productivity.   The government has taken various steps aiming to ensure food security, income and employment opportunities so that the lifestyle of rural people could be improved.

Describing the government’s “Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100” as totally confusing, initiator of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) Dr Nazrul Islam on Sunday said the actual plan needs to be clarified to protect the country’s environment and save people’s lives.