Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Environment Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, has reaffirmed the government's commitment to developing a comprehensive and accessible early warning system to prevent loss of lives and livelihoods during natural disasters. 

Speaking at a stakeholders' consultation workshop titled "Early Warning for All through Hydrological Status and Outlook System" at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon in Dhaka, Rizwana Hasan emphasised the critical need for effective early warnings to protect vulnerable communities from climate-induced hazards.

She highlighted that many communities in Bangladesh remain at high risk due to frequent climate disasters, underscoring the importance of a robust hydrological system. This system, she noted, would enable accurate disaster forecasting, allowing authorities and citizens to take timely action to mitigate the impact on lives, property, and natural resources. "Early warnings are vital in building resilience against disasters," she said.

The Environment Advisor also stressed the necessity of real-time information sharing between Bangladesh and upper riparian countries to ensure an efficient warning system. Collaboration among government bodies, scientific institutions, and local stakeholders is key to developing an inclusive system that serves the most vulnerable populations, she added.

In addition to Rizwana Hasan, the workshop featured remarks from high-level officials including Md Ashraf Uddin, Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, who presided over the event, Kamrul Hasan, Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, and Md Nazmul Ahsan, Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources. Dr. Hwirin Kim, Head of the Hydrology and Water Resources Division at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), also spoke at the event, stressing the importance of a unified approach to building a reliable early warning mechanism.

Earlier in the day, Rizwana Hasan inaugurated, via an online platform, the training session on the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Policy on Programming and Operations in Gazipur.

The consultation brought together senior officials, representatives from government agencies, NGOs, and international partners, all of whom contributed to discussions on building a stronger and more effective hydrological warning system in Bangladesh.

BDST: 1330 HRS, OCT 09, 2024
SMS