Bangladesh forms climate change fund first: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said ‘Bangladesh is the first country to set up ‘Climate Change Trust Fund’ of US$ 400 million from its own resources.’

The premier said this while speaking at the three-day high-level segments of the 22nd Conference of the Parties (COP-22) in Morocco’s former imperial city of Marrakech on Tuesday night.

Mentioning Bangladesh is one of the first countries that signed and ratified the Paris Agreement, the prime minister said lives and livelihoods of millions of people would continue to be at risk unless ‘we deliver to our commitments on climate change issues.’

She highlighted Bangladesh’s disaster management programmes, including early warning system, construction of cyclone shelters and river weeds cultivation, saying these measures have significantly reduced loss of lives and properties during disasters.

Sheikh Hasina, who is now on a three-day tour to attend the high-level segments of the COP-22, joined the inaugural session of the conference along with other heads of state and government on Tuesday morning.

She is leading a 58-member delegation that included Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Environment and Forests Minister Anwar Hossain Manju, Water Resources Minister Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud and Deputy Minister of Environment and Forests Abdullah Al Islam Jacob.