Five climate networks and rights-based organisations in Dhaka urged the Prime Minister to take strong position in the UN Climate Summit for the climate induced migrants’ rights and other justified issues. A human chain was organised in front of the national press club to demand that rich countries must pay their debts to poor countries by ensuring Fast Track Finance.

The human chain titled, We Demand PM to Urge Developed Countries to take responsibility of Climate Migrants was jointly organised by BAPA (Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon), BIPNetCCBD (Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Network for Climate Change and Biodiversity), CCDF (Climate Change Development Forum), CLEAN (Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network), CSRL (Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihood) and EquityBD (Equity and Justice Working Group, Bangladesh).  Mustafa Kamal Akanda of EquityBD moderated the speech session of the event while Dr Abdul Matin, Secretary General of BAPA, Aminur Rasul Babul of Unnayan Dhara Trust, Mrinal Kanti Tripura of BIPNetCCBD, Sarwar Hossain of BKFS and Mowajjem Hossain of Green Voice also addressed the gathering.

“The developed world extracted resources us for centuries and nurtured their industries that cause climate change, which is affecting us today. This is why countries like Bangladesh stand for compensation at Climate Summit. This compensation is not a charity but is debt to the non-Annex 1 countries,” said Dr Abdul Matin of BAPA.

The group stated a 5 point demand from the event that was raised by Syed Aminul Huq and it included:

1. Rich countries must admit their historical responsibility of GHG emission and must give practical promise to reduce it, and to curb 40% of the current emission by 2030.
2. Rich countries must undergo legally binding agreements to reduce GHG.
3. Climate induced Migrants must be treated under a special UN Protocol.
4. 50% of the Green Climate Fund should be funded for adaptation and LDCs should have an easy access to it.
5. Additional funds should be provided for the compensation to cover for loss and damage by natural disasters.

Also addressing those gathered was Mustafa Kamal Akanda of EquityBD who reported that British newspaper, The Guardian stating that USA was not intending to provide finance for climate vulnerable countries.

He said, “This is a clear violation of rights of the climate affected people. They must implement the Fast Track Finance as soon as possible. They can’t withdraw the promise of giving 100b USD every year to the UN Climate Fund.”

Aminur Rasul Babul of Unnayan Dhara Trust stated that they were unsure as to what the Bangladeshi PM would present at the Climate Summit but hoped that she will speak about the displaced people of Bangladesh due to climate change. Closing the session was Mowajjem Hossain of Green Voice who noted that a population of more than two thousand people from coastal and other areas migrating to the cities every day resulting in the population density of Dhaka having to exceed 58 thousand per square km. “It is not possible for us alone to face this huge task of climate adaptation. this is not fair either as we are not the responsible for it,” he added.