Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called for forming an international committee under the auspices of the United Nations to oversee the impacts of climate change on different countries. Hasina also stressed the need for forming the committee to expedite the efforts for rehabilitating the victims of the perilous fallout of global warming while visiting French Minister for Ecology, Sustainable Development and Planning Jean-Louis Borloo paid a courtesy call on her at the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday.

Jean conveyed French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s “special greetings and respects” to Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad told journalists after the meeting. In reply, Hasina also conveyed her respects to the French president. Hasina again put emphasis on united global efforts to tackle the challenges stemming from the calamitous climate change caused by excessive greenhouse gas emissions. “Comprehensive measures have to be taken in a coordinated manner to face the possible global challenges, especially to save the poor countries going to be worst affected for no fault of their own,” the PM said, who is vocal in various global forums for a coordinated global combat against the hazards of climate change.

Hasina told the French minister that though her government has planned a climate-change fund worth US$100 million, but it would not be sufficient to face the terrific impacts of the global climate change. “International community needs to come forward with financial assistance for Bangladesh to enable it to face the wrath of natural calamities,” she said. The French minister invited the premier to visit France on the eve of attending the Copenhagen climate conference in Denmark. The two sides discussed various other bilateral, regional and international issues of common concern. They hoped that the existing friendly relations between Bangladesh and France would strengthen further in the days to come.

-Daily Star