Information and Broadcasting Minister and environmental researcher Dr Hasan Mahmud has said Bangladesh is now a role model in reducing the risks induced by climate change.
He made the remark while speaking at an international dialogue at Bangladesh pavilion on Monday evening on the sidelines of the Conference of Parties (COP) – 26 in Glasgow of Scotland, according to a message received here today.
The Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL) arranged the dialogue on ‘Prospect of Solar-Powered Irrigation to Enhance Climate Resilience in Bangladesh’.
Speaking as the chief guest, Hasan said the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP) is now showing path to the world in dealing with climate change impacts.
That is why, he said, Bangladesh is now a role model in this regard.
Hasan, also the Awami League joint general secretary, said the Bangladesh government is implementing the action plan with its own fund, while it has already taken 789 projects involving US$ 443 million from Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund (BCCTF).
Addressing the climate change impacts, the country is moving forward at an indomitable pace due to the time-befitting initiatives taken under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he added. He sought cooperation from World Bank and development associate agencies in enhancing the use of solar panel in Bangladesh.
Hasan said the use of eco-friendly and cost-effective solar panel has increased in agricultural irrigation abroad instead of diesel-run pump.
He said now there are 1,240,000 diesel-run irrigation pumps and farmers have to buy a huge amount of diesel for operating the pumps while diesel-run pumps emit massive quantity of carbon dioxide.
If solar-powered irrigation pump can be used instead of diesel-run pump, it will help conserve environment by stopping emission of carbon-dioxide as well as save huge amount of foreign exchange, he mentioned.
For diesel-run pump, he said, now farmers have to spend huge money in buying diesel and repairing the pumps, but solar-powered irrigation pump can be used for 20 years at a stretch.
Lauding the host organization of the programme, the minister said IDCOL has already attained global accolades by setting up 1500 solar-powered irrigation pumps as part of their initiative of minimize the climate change related damages.
He said the IDCOL is also playing an important role in attaining the government pledges for renewable energy.
Hasan hoped that Bangladesh will be able to attain targets of renewable energy by 2030.
He said nationally determined contribution (NDC) pledges will reduce carbon emission in facing the climate change impact as well as it will create employment opportunities.
“So, we need investment, research and innovations in green technology,” he said.
Power Division Secretary and IDCOL Director Md Habibur Rahman chaired the function while Environment, Forests and Climate Change Secretary Md Mustafa Kamal addressed it as the special guest.
Agriculture Ministry Additional Secretary Ruhul Amin Talukder, representatives of different development associates including World Bank, JICA, ADB, USAID, UNDP and GEF joined it. The information minister is expected to return home on November 17.
