A study-sharing consultation titled “Policy Scopes and Gaps: Climate Resilient Urban Development in Bangladesh” was held on 6th April at 10.30 AM at Dhaka Reporters Unity’s (DRU) Nasrul Hamid Auditorium. The event was organized by Centre for Participatory Research and Development -CPRD, and supported by CANSA and misereor. The seminar was chaired by Md. Shamsuddoha, Chief Executive of CPRD. As the Discussants, there were Mr. Nikhil Chandra Bhadra, Senior Journalist of KalerKontho, Mr. Aminur Rasul, Executive Director of Unnoya Dhara Trust, Mr. Shahnawaz Whara, Regional Climate and Resilience Advocacy Manager of Practical Action, Prof. Dr. Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, Chairman of Department of ENV of Stamford University. Many other CSOs joined the event and shared their thoughts as well. The research findings were presented by CPRD’s Research Officer, Mr. Md Shahnul Islam and Research Assistant Ms. Elmee Tabassum.
The findings of the research carried out by CPRD depict the status quo of climate-resilient urban development in Bangladesh through three thematic areas – mitigation, adaptation and inclusiveness. The study was conducted through desk research where concerned report of Working group 2 and 3 of IPCC 6th Assessment Report and 12 government policies and programs have been reviewed. And a ground study was also conducted to oversee the current scenario thereof. CPRD presented 2 case studies that reveals the scarcity of basic human needs has reached an acute level among the marginalized city dwellers. The study shows that according to IPCC 6th Assessment Report, climate change-induced hazard risk has increased where urbanization process acts as a triggering factor. For this, Bangladesh will likely to face shortage of drinking water and an increase in frequency of acute diseases like Dengue in the urban area in the near future.
The study reviews 12 government policies that has focus on Urban Infrastructure, Housing and Shelter for Urban Poor, Urban Mobility, Urban Health, renewable Energy, DRR plans and Pollutions. These policies are Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan 2009, Climate Change Trust Act, 2010, National Urban Health Strategy 2014, National Strategy for Water Supply and Sanitation 2014, Energy Efficiency and Conservation Master Plan up to 2030, Bangladesh Housing Policy 2016, Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100, Perspective Plan of Bangladesh 2021 – 2041, 8ty Five Year Plan (July 2020 – June 2025), National Plan for Disaster Management (2021 – 2025), Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) 2021: Bangladesh and National Adaptation Plan of Bangladesh (2023 – 2050). CPRD identifies policy gaps of aforementioned policies and programs and provides some feasible advocacy issues for civil society.
As the chair of the event, Md. Shamsuddoha stated that every policy should be made and implement considering a climate change angle in it. He affirmed that urbanization always develops centering city areas so the city areas face an extra load of population. He added to enhance facilities of coastal areas so that people do not become prone to migrate to the city areas.
Reflecting on the study findings, Shahnawaz Whara sorrowed that “When we talk about urban development, there is no urban centered climate-resilience dedicated research that can show the implementation gap.” Secondary cities can be explored that can decrease the load from mega cities, he recommended.
Senior Journalist Mr. Nikhil Chandra Bhadra urged to mitigate the inter-ministrial coordination gap while implementing sectoral policy. Mr. Aminur Rasul pointed up to look into the development plans as programs instead of projects that has a constraint of time. Policies need to be synthesized with those who are the targeted group of the concerned program. He stressed that ”There is no need to increase the facilities of slums in city areas that basically attract people to migrate towards Dhaka and increase the pressure of people there.”
