A two-day long international conference on “Climate Change and Small Ethnic Communities of South and Southeast Asia” began on Sunday at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban of Dhaka University (DU). Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman inaugurated it as the chief guest. The Department of Anthropology of DU in association with Bangladesh Climate Change Trust has organized this conference.
Chairperson of the Department of Anthropology Prof Dr Farhana Begum presided over the inaugural session while Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences Prof Dr Sadeka Halim and Director of Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Dr Nasirudoulah addressed it as special guests. Chairman of PKSF Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad presented key-note speech. Convener of Conference Organizing Committee Prof Dr Zahidul Islam delivered welcome address while Co-convener Prof Hasan A Shafie gave vote of thanks.
Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman stressed the need for formulating policy to protect small ethnic communities from the impact of global climate change. He emphasized on integrating the indigenous people in main stream of our economy to achieve Sustainable Development Goals. He said, Bangladesh is always affected by different types of disasters including flood, drought, cyclone, river erosion and salinity along with other Asian countries due to global climate change. He urged the political and academic leaders of Asia to work together to reduce risk of all sorts of natural disasters. Academicians and researchers from different countries of Asia are participating in the conference.
