More than 30 million people in the country still live below the poverty line. This poor population is most affected by the adverse effects of climate change. The 30 poorest upazilas in the country are at high or medium climate risk, according to the Institute for Inclusive Finance and Development (INM).
The information was shared at the launch of the ‘Bangladesh Poverty Monitoring Report-2024’ at the BRAC Center in Mohakhali, Dhaka, on Wednesday (June 18). The report was jointly prepared by INM and the Center for Inclusive Development Dialogue (CIDD).
The report release ceremony was presided over by INM Chairman Dr. Kazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmed and welcomed by the organization’s Executive Director, Dr. Mustafa K. Mujeri. The report was presented by INM Research Fellow Dr. Farhana Nargis. It was informed at the ceremony that the report was prepared based on data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) in addition to talking to 3,000 people.
The report mentions that among the poorest upazilas in the country, 9 upazilas, including Gouripur, Madaripur Sadar, Netrokona Sadar, and Chakoria, are at a high level of climate risk. In addition, other poor upazilas, including Dasar, Haluaghat, Kalkini, and Raipura, are at a medium level of risk. The report specifically analyzes the data of Chuadanga, Naogaon, Bhola, Sunamganj, Kurigram, Satkhira, and Bagerhat.
The report further states that Bangladesh is at risk from climate change due to various characteristics, including its geographical location. The poor are the most affected by the adverse effects of climate disasters. Since the poor have limited adaptive capacity, they are even more vulnerable. The report recommends formulating inclusive and poverty-sensitive adaptation strategies, climate-sensitive poverty reduction initiatives, making maximum use of coordination and interrelationships across sectors, maintaining coordination and coherence among relevant institutions, and strengthening local initiatives.
Dr. Kazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmed said that poverty alleviation initiatives will not be successful without taking into account the adverse effects of climate change. The world has now reached a situation where it is not possible to stop climate change. For this, coordinated long-term steps must be taken. Although there has been a lot of discussion on the issue in Bangladesh, there is no coordinated priority initiative. Therefore, despite spending about six billion dollars, or about 73 thousand crore taka in local currency, every year, the benefits are not being achieved.
Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) Director General Dr. AK Enamul Haque, Rural Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) Deputy Managing Director Dr. Fazle Rabbi Sadek Ahmad, and others also spoke at the event.
