[This photo is shot when Dr. Iftekharuzzaman delivers his speech; the rest of the speakers beside him looking at the audience ahead (not in the photo);] [Photo: Maleya]
When COP 18, the global climate conference is all set to be held in Doha, Qatar, from November 26 (which is in fact from today) to December 7, Bangladesh’s green activists and civil society members with their various demands, under the banner of 7 organizations… Bangladesh Poribesh Anodolon (BAPA), Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples’ Network on Climate Change and Biodiversity (BIPNetCCBD), Climate Change and Development Forum (CCDF),
Climate Finance Governance Network, Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihood, Equity and Justice Working Group Bangladesh and Network on Climate Change Bangladesh (NCC’B)…came out in their dozens to form a peaceful rally that after beginning from Dhaka Press Club, and parading through the capital’s different busy streets, ended as a gathering in front of Shaheed Minar (a national monument to commemorate language martyrs killed in 1952), on November 22 last.
[ Some indigenous green activists… (From left) Usha Chak, Sudipta Chakma, Pragati Chakma, and Uttara Tripura…of Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples’ Network on Climate Change and Biodiversity (BIPNetCCBD) of which secretariat is Maleya Foundation , an NGO working for the rights of the indigenous peoples of Bangladesh, are caught in this photo while they were having some light moments at one stage of the gathering on the premises of Shaheed Minar;] [Photo: Maleya]
Moderated by Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of Equity and Justice Working Group Bangladesh, the gathering in front of Shaheed Minar was addressed by, among many, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, executive director, Transparency International, Bangladesh, Mrinal Kanti Tripura of BIPNetCCBD, and Mizanur Rahman Bijoy of NCC’B.
The speakers urged the Bangladesh delegation to be attending COP 18 to hold high the interests of the climate vulnerable countries, and to not compromise on equity issues. They lambasted the global money lender, the World Bank for forcibly taking the control over Bangladesh Climate Change Resilience Fund (BCCRF).
[Green activists holding high different placards and banners that read several demands on the premises of Shaheed Minar;] [Photo: Maleya]
The speakers further stressed on the necessity of transparency and access of “adivasis/ indigenous peoples” and “local communities” to the national and international climate funds.
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