Experts, including academics, in a conference on Wednesday called for sustainable urban development to create resilient cities capable of withstanding the adverse effects of climate change amidst rapid urbanisation.
They made the call on the first day of the two-day conference titled Urban Resilience Forum, which began at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center in the capital.
The conference, part of the 鈥楲ivelihoods Improvement of Urban Poor Communities Project鈥�, a Local Government Division project, has been jointly organised by the Local Government Division, the UK government, and the UNDP.
It will address emerging challenges that require collective action.
Addressing the opening session as chief guest, Md Tazul Islam, minister of local government, rural development and cooperatives, said that the government prepared the National Adaptation Plan and Bangladesh Delta Plan to build a resilient Bangladesh and finalise the National Urban Policy to ensure climate-friendly development.
The government is now prioritising resilient infrastructure, integrated water resource management, community-based adaptation, afforestation and ecosystem restoration, and social protection programs to make resilient cities and towns, he mentioned.
聽The UNDP resident representative, Stefan Liller, highlighted several key issues, including the importance of affordable housing and the issue of climate-induced displacement.
A robust national urban policy is essential for planned development, and achieving a climate-smart, sustainable urban development vision for Bangladesh, he said.
Sarah Cooke, British high commissioner to Bangladesh, praised Bangladesh鈥檚 achievements in reducing extreme poverty over the past three decades amidst rapid urbanisation, while noting that cities were still struggling to cope up with.
Local Government Division secretary Abu Hena Morshed Zaman chaired the session, while its joint secretary Md Masum Patwary delivered welcome speech on the opening day.
