Climate march in Satkhira demands fair compensation

SATKHIRA, Oct 13: A climate march was held in the Satkhira town on Tuesday, demanding fair compensation, with an eye on the upcoming COP31 conference in Turkey. 

Bangladesh Resource Center for Indigenous Knowledge (BARCIK) and the Education, Culture, and Diversity protection team jointly organised the march. 

The procession started from the Post Office intersection in the town and traversed various roads.

Earlier, speakers at a rally called on countries and other parties responsible for climate change to provide fair compensation to affected communities. They noted that although coastal communities have contributed very little to global warming, they are bearing some of its most devastating consequences.

The speakers also warned that global temperatures continue to rise, intensifying natural disasters and increasing the scale of damage. People in Satkhira, a coastal district of Bangladesh, have been grappling with the impacts of climate change for years.

Cyclones, storm surges, riverbank erosion and increasing soil and water salinity are damaging houses, agricultural land, livelihoods and sources of safe drinking water. Repeated disasters have left many people destitute and forced some to abandon their homes. In search of livelihoods, some have had no choice but to move elsewhere.

Ahead of COP31, the speakers stressed the need to strengthen demands for climate justice, protect the rights of coastal communities and ensure fair compensation for losses and damage caused by climate change.

President of the Green Coalition and a cultural personality Abu Affan Rose Babu Presided over the programme and General Secretary of the Satkhira Climate Council Principal Ashek-e-Elahi, Green Coalition Adviser and human rights activist Madhab Chandra Datta, Member Secretary of the District Climate Justice Forum and senior journalist Sharifullah Kaiser Sumon, President of the District Udichi Shilpi Gosthi Sheikh Siddiqur Rahman; President of the Sadar Upazila Water Committee Md. Mofizur Rahman; landless leader Abdus Samad;  Programme Officer at BARCIK Gazi Mahida Mizan; youth organiser Jahangir Alam; Education, Culture, and Diversity protection team member Jyoti Sarkar speak among others.