President Md. Abdul Hamid has said that there is no alternative to planned urbanization to build a safe and livable country for the next generation.
He said this in a message on the occasion of World Habitat Day on October 3.
The President welcomed the initiative to celebrate ‘World Settlement Day’ in Bangladesh this year.
He said that this year’s World Habitat Day theme is ‘Building a Carbon-Free World’ by implementing the urban approach. The adverse effects of increasing global warming due to carbon emissions worldwide will severely affect various countries and regions of the world, including Bangladesh, shortly. Therefore, in the context of climate change, this year’s theme has become very significant.
He said that reducing greenhouse gas emissions is essential to tackle global climate change in addition to planned urbanization.
The President said Bangladesh had become a role model of development worldwide following the dream of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the best Bengali nation for thousands of years. Along with economic growth, the cities of Bangladesh are also changing rapidly. As the population density in urban areas rises, so do carbon emissions from vehicles, buildings, and machinery. He mentioned that it is possible to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through planned urbanization in megacities and districts and Upazilas.
Keeping in view the realities of the modern age, the government has taken steps to formulate and implement the National Solar Energy Action Plan: 2021-2041. In addition, the Metrorail project, climate-tolerant land use plan in district-Upazila towns, and the Urban Resilience project in Dhaka city are being implemented to reduce traffic congestion. Soon, nuclear power generation will start in Rooppur as a carbon-free source of electricity in Bangladesh.
Abdul Hamid said that by reducing hydrocarbon-based fuels, we need to be more proactive in the efficient use of alternative sources like solar and wind energy.
He hoped that the concerned government and non-government organizations would continue their joint efforts to this end.
He wished overall success to the program adopted on the occasion of World Settlement Day 2021.
Source: BSS
