Planning Minister A H M Mustafa Kamal on Thursday said the country's haor areas cannot be protected from natural calamities even by constructing 40-ft dams due to the impact of climate change.
He urged all sections of people, including the United Nations, to raise voice against the menace of climate change.
He was speaking as the chief guest at the launching programme of three research reports by General Economics Division (GED) of Planning Commission at NEC Conference Room in the city.
The three reports are: Data Gap Analysis for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Bangladesh Perspective, Banking Atlas and Workshop Outcome Document on Environment, and Climate Change Policy Gap Analysis in Haor Areas.
GED Member Shamsul Alam chaired the event and presented the summary of the three reports.
The planning minister further said, "Bangladesh has become successful in many areas. But there is one area where we are handicapped, that is climate change."
"Climate change has turned deadly in recent times, which is evident in the recent disaster in the haor areas," he added.
Mr kamal announced that he would prepare a master-plan for the haor region in collaboration with haor activists and other experts concerned.
The minister also said the government has to maintain inclusive growth and bring the disadvantaged people in the mainstream economy to attain the SDGs.
Noted economist Prof Wahiduddin Mahmud, who was present as one of the special guests, highly praised the three publications of GED, which have been done going beyond the regular government work.
He said the three publications are quite time-befitting and contain necessary research and data, especially the Banking Atlas report. It shows the per account deposit and credit amounts in rural areas, which depict the geographical sourcing of savings across the country as well as their use and investment.
"The overall banking facilities in the country have increased. But investment is higher in those areas, including the comparatively poor areas like Rangpur and Southern coastal areas, where savings are higher," he said.
"It means credit is being disbursed in a planned way in the poverty pockets, which is a very good sign," said the former caretaker government adviser.
He said an economic corridor has been created in between Dhaka and Chittagong, where banking transaction is the highest. Sylhet and Noakhali have high savings, but low credit disbursement. It might happen, as there is high remittance flow in these areas. Distribution of deposit must be monitored.
"Wherever there are more economic transactions, there is higher growth."
Regarding the haor areas, Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud said more research and experts are required for haor along with a development plan.
Besides, there are irregularities, corruption, bad politics, and lack of coordination among the ministries concerned.
"Haor is a resourceful area, and there is resource curse - people of a resourceful area cannot enjoy the benefit," said the economist.
With regard to data gap in monitoring the SDGs, Prof Mahmud said Bangladesh has higher and more innovative data than any other LDCs.
He also said it is not necessary that the indicators provided by the UN for monitoring the SDGs is sufficient. Bangladesh can think of its own innovative and alternative indicators.
Shamsul Alam said out of the 231 indicators, data is available on only 70 indicators, while 108 can be generated by modifying the existing census and survey. The data on 70 indicators are also lagging behind by five years.
There is improvement in expansion of banking services in rural areas. The more the intensity of branches in an area, the less the poverty rate is there, he added.
In the discussion on the reports, the speakers said the policy-makers and planners should have proper knowledge of science for constructing dams.
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Source: The Financial Express