Dhaka to play active role , says Foreign Advisor Iftekhar

Independent (Bangladesh): The foreign adviser, Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, has said since climate change is a priority issue, Bangladesh will continue to play an active role in the global debate on the subject. He made the remark when a nine-member delegation of European Parliamentary Committee on Climate Change met the foreign adviser Thursday night at the state guesthouse Padma.

Iftekhar said countries like Bangladesh, which is also the current Chair of the Group of LDCs, are least responsible for greenhouse gas emissions and global warming, yet they suffer the most from their consequences. He said developed countries including those of the European Union have an obligation to help implement requisite preventive and adaptation projects.

The foreign adviser said the chief adviser, Fakhruddin Ahmed co-chaired the UN debate on climate change during the last General Assembly session with Dutch prime minister Belkenende. He said Bangladesh made an active contribution to the Bali Conference and will continue to play a major role in the debate during the lead-up to the planned Copenhagen Conference in 2009.

The delegation led by Romana Jordan Cizeli of Slovenia appreciated the priority that Bangladesh placed on the subject and expressed the confidence that Bangladeshs active engagement would enrich the deliberations. The foreign adviser also briefed the delegation on the current institutional reforms being undertaken by the government to ensure stable and sustainable democracy.

Flag of Bangladesh draw by SKopp, from Wikimedia Commons.