Round Table Discussion on Bangladesh: Climate change

London- 29 Oct (VoBD) - As a follow up to Copenhagen summit in Dec 2009 on climate change a round table discussion was held on 29 Oct 2009 at the table in The Nature of the Beast: Goshka Macuga, Whitechapel Gallery, organised by the European Action Group on Climate Change in Bangladesh.

The discussion was chaired by Ansar Ahmed Ullah, Convenor of the European Action Group on Climate Change in Bangladesh and was attended by community activists, environmentalists and climate experts from the UK, Bangladesh and representatives from Oxfam, Flipside Vision, Green Party, Labour Party, A World to Win, DFID and Bangladesh government.

Mr. M. Allama Siddiki, Deputy High Commissioner, Bangladesh High Commission, London attended the event as the chief guest speaker who outlined the expertise Bangladesh has to offer to the rest of the world in relation to dealing with climate change. He mentioned that for the last few years, Bangladesh's economy has experienced around 6% rate of growth. Food production has remained at a level to ensure broad food security. Poverty has fallen though still remains a huge challenge. Bangladesh certainly has still along way to go and whatever achievements Bangladesh has made are not insubstantial but these achievements maybe hindered by the adverse affect of climate change.

Syed Enam, Joint Convenor of European Action Group opened the discussion, followed by a presentation from Ziaul Hoque Mukta, Policy and Advocacy Manager, Oxfam GB Bangladesh. This was followed by discussion and contributions from around the table. Those who took part in the discussion were journalist Abu Musa Hasan, Newham Labour Cllr Ayub Korom Ali, Haringey Labour Cllr Gmmh Rahman Khan, Dr Akhtar Sobhan Khan, European Action Group, Dr Rafiqul Hassan Khan, Udichi, Dr B B Chaudhuri, Nirmul Committee, Farid Bakht, International Coordinator, National Executive, Green Party of England & Wales, Katy Wright, Political Campaigner, Oxfam Louisa Roberts, Country Liaison Manager for India and Bangladesh, South Asia Strategy and Operations (SASO), DFID, Monjurul Azim Palash, European Action Group, Murad Qureshi, Labour Assembly Member, Chair GLA Environment Committee, Penny Cole, Environment Editor, A World to Win and Rashed Titumir, University of Dhaka amongst others.
The discussion took place around a number of issues including climate change frameworks, mitigation and adaptation agendas, to consider the costs of tackling climate change, the impacts of climate change, transferring technology, the opportunities for developing carbon markets and establishing a carbon price, and international arrangements necessary to facilitate the global response to climate change.
European Action Group announced that following from discussion a report will be forwarded to All Party Parliamentary Group on Climate Change to both Bangladesh and the UK.

Others who were in attendance in the discussions were Alice Sielle, artist, Anthony Collin, Abul Khayer T2, European Action Group, Diane Korchen, Flipside Vision, Dave Terrey, George Sielle, musician, Gilliam Samuel, local resident, John Skutch, Leon Silver, East London Central Synagogue, Mikey, Rashed Chowdhury, Press Minister, Bangladesh High Commission, Stephen Watts, poet and Saiful Islam Mithu, European Action Group.

In addition to discussion film makers Phil Maxwell and Hazuan Hashim screened their Greening Workplace Unison Climate change film and previewed their forthcoming film Drowning by Carbon. This film Drowning by Carbon will examine climate change from the perspective of those who are already having to deal with its effects. Communities in Bangladesh are suffering increased and more severe flooding which leads to loss of homes, crops and income. The narrative of the film will be harvested from interviews with fisherman, children, farmers, students and scientists from Bangladesh. With a focus on Bangladesh the film will also use footage from around the world to show how high carbon based economies impact on poorer countries.

A one minute silence tribute was paid to community activist Cllr Mustaq Qureshi who sadly passed away on 21 Oct 2009.