"We have established a record of doing very complex things," he said. "In a traditional, conservative country, to make it acceptable to talk about birth control shows that we are capable of sustaining social change, if we have enough support."
He said it's important to him that Bangladesh's achievements be understood, and to avoid having his country labeled as an "eternal victim."
"You basically give up as soon as you label a country a victim. There's fatigue," Rahman said. "Bangladesh is a resilient country. We have shown the world that we can adapt, that we can confront things, that we are not just passive victims of disasters."
Sarder Shafiqul Alam, a research fellow at the Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies, said there's a larger picture to consider. Alam said he doesn't want the world to become so focused on helping countries cope that it ignores the need to reduce emissions. All the cyclone shelters in the world, he said, will only go so far.
"Our adaptation will not last very long," Alam said. "Adaptation has some limit."
Reprinted from Greenwire with permission from Environment & Energy Publishing, LLC. www.eenews.net, 202-628-6500
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Add CommentThis is an educational document that provides sufficient material to reflect upon the complex nature of 'climate change' and its impact in Bangladesh. While the country can claim to have made tremendous headway in converting challenges into opportunities through resilience and adaptation. However, the call is for a concerted effort specifically in the light of the present global economic downtrend. One of the essential aspect of climate change is the impact on rural population of Bangladesh and the inescapably visible refugees in the urban areas.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhile experts try to find a reasonable solution - climate change needs to be the essential component for development work in all sectors. The after effect of Sidr and Aila - are still driving away people from their habitat to find shelter, food and employment. These are perennial movements and resettlement processes in the country that are adding to poverty level. And as a result increasing the number of people that the innumerable security nets are unable to capture.
The GoB, development partenrs, NGOs, Civil society and corporate sector together have to formulate strategic plan of action that doesn't begin or end with new salt resistant rice plant or floating vegetable garden. At the heart of the climate change crises is the effect on human life and depletion of basic human rights and security.
Habiba Tasneem
Chief Coordinator
Institute of Hazrat Mohammad (SAW)
ihmsaw@gmail.com