Bangladesh’s climate adaptation projects. 

Location: Majhi Kandi (in Shariatpur District) and Dhaka

Language   : Bengali

Sound: Natural

Duration: 00:05:34

Source: A24 Agency

Restrictions: A24 Subscribers

Dateline     : 18.04.22

Storyline

The government of Bangladesh is implementing a project aimed at enhancing the climate resilience of vulnerable communities, who live on coastal islands and riverine chars in the country.

The project, titled “Adaptation Initiative for Climate Vulnerable Offshore Small Islands and Riverine Charland in Bangladesh”, has four components.

The first one deals with enhancing climate resilience of households through climate-resilient housing, electrification and climate-proof water provisioning, and the second is increasing climate resilience of communities through climate-resilient infrastructure, climate risk mapping and inclusive cyclone preparedness.

The third component is improving income and food security of communities by innovating and providing assistance to selected households for climate-resilient livelihood practices while the fourth is boosting knowledge and capacity of communities, government and policymakers to promote climate resilient development on chars.

Professor Khalilur Rahman, Ex-Chairman, Department of Soil, Water and Environment in the University of Dhaka, hailed the Adaptation project, saying it will reduce the impact of the over-flow of water.

He urged the government to create a green belt surrounding the coastal areas to absorb the Carbon dioxide responsible for water raise.

Shotlist

Soundbite: Aslam Sheikh, farmer in the Maji Kandi island

“The river bank is eroding for the last one year. It was eroded before also and the whole island was under water for two years.When again the island raised up, all of us again came back here. We had locality here with electricity and school, madrasah and college everything. Now colleges is not here. But have school and one man and women madrasah is still here. Our children study in those. If this place erode again, study of our children will be stopped. Their future will be spoiled. In these lands we cultivated Blackberries. We collected those ten days before. We use to cultivate Blackberries, Onion, Garlic etc and in the low lands we cultivate Boro Rice and Haidda Rice which is called Ayus Rice.”

Soundbite: Shahjahan Sheikh, local farmer

“Previously we were living in Char Janaja. After Char janaja was eroded by the river we migrated here name Maji Kandi. We have started cultivation again. Govt. have established schools, college everything here. But this place has stared eroding again. But now Govt. has making anti-erosion dame.”

Soundbite: Professor Khalilur Rahman, Ex-Chairman, Department of Soil, Water and Environment in the University of Dhaka

“The Islands need to be surrounded by the scientific arboriculture of the trees like Rain Tree or any other trees along with the dams. These initiatives will reduce the impact of the over-flow of water. Water level raised up when presence of Carbon-Di-Oxide increase in the air. As micro level example say if Carbon-Di-Oxide increase in the air, here have nothing to reduce it. But in nature trees prepare it’s food by the leaf. The process is called Photosynthesis. Carbon-Di-Oxide is required in this process. If we can create green-belt surrounding the costal areas which is not a new concept and establish for many years, absorb the Carbon-Di-Oxide responsible for water raise.”

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