BNP Wants to Prioritize Climate Change and Environmental Protection in Election Manifesto

Political party leaders have called for youth to work together in tackling climate change risks and protecting the environment. They say this crisis can be addressed if young people become aware. However, political leaders also suggest that this issue should be given serious consideration in election manifestos.

Politicians made these remarks at a discussion meeting titled 'Manifesto Talk: Youth, Environment and Climate' organized at the Department of Environment in Agargaon, Dhaka.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Mahdi Amin, advisor to BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, said the past autocratic government destroyed the environment in the name of mega projects. They embezzled crores of taka from various projects in the name of development. Sheikh Hasina's fallen government never conducted any tests to determine whether projects were environmentally friendly before undertaking them.

Dr. Mahdi Amin said BNP will not include anything in its election manifesto that could destroy the environment in the name of development projects. He said the green revolution plan initiated by martyred President Ziaur Rahman will be implemented. Dr. Mahdi Amin also informed that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party has already undertaken tree plantation programs to increase greenery nationwide.

Saiful Islam, General Secretary of Bangladesh Revolutionary Workers Party, said the time has come for political parties to unite under one umbrella regarding climate change and environmental protection. As time passes, Bangladesh is increasingly facing the threat of climate change. Bangladesh Revolutionary Workers Party will prioritize this issue in its election manifesto. However, Saiful Haq called upon youth not to vote for those who are grabbing rivers, canals, and clearing forests, regardless of which symbol they contest under in the upcoming election.

Manifesto Talk convener Habib Rahman said Bangladesh can be freed from environmental disasters if political parties work together with youth.

Nationalist Democratic Movement Chairman Bobby Hajjaj said his party had seriously included climate and environmental issues in their election manifesto in the 2018 election as well. His party will reflect youth aspirations in the upcoming election too. Even if NDM cannot come to power in the next election, it will continue working with youth demands.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Central Assistant Secretary Ehsanul Mahbub Jubayer said youth power alone can save the country from climate and environmental disasters. He said his party has already started working on the manifesto and will seriously consider climate change and environmental issues. However, he noted that no matter how much importance is given in budgets or manifestos, neither climate change nor environmental pollution can be prevented if youth do not change their habits or become responsible.

Speaking at the Manifesto Talk-Youth-Climate and Environment discussion, Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haq Nur said climate change is no longer just Bangladesh's issue—it's a global crisis. Low-income countries like ours are suffering due to developed countries. Political parties must now think about how to involve youth in overcoming this crisis.

Gono Odhikar Parishad General Secretary Ramed Khan said the capital Dhaka is now at the peak of environmental disaster. Solutions won't come just by giving importance to this issue in political manifestos if public awareness cannot be increased.

Gono Sanghati Andolan leader Abul Hasan Rubel expressed agreement with youth demands regarding climate change damage and environmental disaster management. He said climate change and environmental issues were placed prominently in their 2018 election manifesto. Gono Sanghati Executive Co-coordinator Abul Hasan Rubel said there's no opportunity to advance the country just through voting if the environment cannot be protected. Therefore, his party will give importance to youth opinions in the election manifesto.

Ariful Islam Adib, Senior Joint Convener of the new party National Nagarik Party formed after August 5 leadership, said grabbers are destroying the environment, rivers, canals, and forests by exerting political influence in various ways. National Nagarik Party, formed under youth leadership, always considers youth aspirations seriously. This young leader informed that NCP will not make any decisions that cause environmental disasters.

Chief guest at the Manifesto Talk-Youth-Climate-Environment discussion, Forest, Environment and Climate Affairs Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan, said the current interim government is working to protect the environment. Several measures have been taken to prevent air pollution and river grabbing. Forest and Environment Advisor Rizwana Hasan said party affiliates will not be given exemptions. However, she said cooperation from political parties is also needed to tackle this crisis. Care must be taken to ensure youth don't fall into monetary temptation while working. Forest, Environment and Climate Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan advised maintaining transparency in all matters.

Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Mohammad Ejaz welcomed this youth initiative, saying his organization is working to protect the environment. However, a group is conspiring against them, and they're not receiving adequate support from political parties, complained North City Administrator Mohammad Ejaz. To protect the capital, the surrounding rivers must be protected. Administrator Ejaz said Dhaka North City Corporation has already started working with youth to increase greenery in the capital.

Environmental activist Sharif Jamil said the past autocratic government undertook environment-destroying projects in the name of development. Major projects including Matarbari and Payra destroyed the environment in these areas. Sharif Jamil said the past government didn't listen to anyone. He opined that crisis management won't be possible if political parties don't prioritize these issues in their manifestos.

Center for Participatory Research and Development Chief Executive Md. Shamsuddoha highlighted how Climate Trust Fund money was embezzled during the past autocratic government. Most of the money meant for tackling climate change damage was spent on various local government development projects due to embezzlement. Therefore, Shamsuddoha said political parties must ensure transparency and accountability in climate fund expenditure.

According to Professor Kamruzzaman Majumder, youth coming forward has created new possibilities. However, Bangladesh cannot be saved from destruction without clear environmental protection agendas from political parties.

At the end of the program, Livestock and Fisheries Advisor Farida Akhter said if haors and baors survive, Bangladesh will survive too. More such discussions need to be held involving everyone. Political parties must also be brought under accountability, and this will only be possible through youth. Livestock and Fisheries Advisor Farida Akhter said overcoming environmental or climate change impacts will be possible only if this can be achieved.

The Manifesto Talk-Youth-Climate-Environment dialogue was organized by 15 environmental organizations including Sachetan Foundation, Brighters, Center for Participatory Research and Dialogue, Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies, Center for Climate Change and Environment Research, and Human Safety Foundation.

At the event, Forest, Environment and Climate Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan inaugurated the new youth coalition Bangladesh Youth Climate Coalition focused on environmental issues. She wished success for this youth initiative.