The seminar was organised by the Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme (CDMP) of food and disaster management ministry at Dhaka Reporters Unity auditorium with a view to promoting the role of media in addressing the climate risks in the country.

The panel discussants said this year the theme of the World Environment Day is 'Melting Ice-A hot topic? Ask.'

But Bangladesh has already started experiencing the effects of global warming which will be a threat to its people within two decades, they added.

Terming the global warming a by-product of economic activities, Larry Maramis, deputy country director of UNDP, stressed the north-south cooperation to achieve a low carbon economy.

He said the world community should come up with a consensus approach, so that countries like Bangladesh do not become a victim of climate politics.

Mohammad Reazuddin, director of environment department, said though people are still less concerned about the climate change, changes are taking place gradually over the years.

He said, "People are trying to adapt with changing circumstances by changing their crop pattern. People in some parts of the country have shifted from growing rice to potato and from potato to maze."

"Due to drought, flash flood and hailstorm the farmers are facing various challenges. For erratic behaviour of weather, we could not meet the target of production, we had rice sterility this year," he added.

Reazuddin said, "Changes such as salinity intrusion, desertification and sea level rise will compound our risks in attaining national development, particularly in reducing poverty level."

In his multi-media presentation, he also showed how the earth is warming rapidly.

According to a paper that he presented, since the mid-1800s global temperature have increased by about .6oC, and scientists predict that within 50 years temperature may increase up to 2.5º C.

Besides, the sea levels have risen by 10-25 cm in last century with the 40 percent decrease of ice in the arctic.

"Within the next 50 years, Bangladesh may stand at the point of no return," he cautioned.

Dr Ahsan Uddin Ahmed, executive director of the Centre for Global Change, said since most people in Bangladesh think that climate change is a problem of future and can't see how it relates to them, they should be made aware of the situation.

"Here the media has a role to play. It can make climate change an easily understandable issue for the common people," he added.

Prof KB Sajjadur Rashid of geography and environment department of Dhaka University, and Kamrul Hasan Monju, executive director of Massline Media Centre, also spoke on the occasion.

SM Morshed, national advocacy expert of CDMP, moderated the programme.