They are facing a limping disaster as their means of livelihood are threatened due to inundation of 10 to 17 per cent of landmass due to wiring sea level and salinity in the mainland, the speakers said.

They urged the government to take up the matter seriously as climate change is not a 'far away topic' any more. Climate change and global warming pose threat to their existence, they said at the seminar held in Shyamnagar, a coastal area.

Bangladesh has already started experiencing effects of global warming which will be a threat to its people within 15 to 20 years, they said.

Bangladesh can demand compensation from G-8 countries because they are responsible for the climate change, they said.

The seminar on ' climatic change and its adverse effect on coastal areas' was organised by two local NGOs--Leaders and Gana Unnayan Sangstha. It was held at Upazila auditorium with Atarjan Mahila College Principal Ashek e Elahi in the chair.

Shyamnagar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Dilip Kumar Banik was the chief guest. It was addressed by local Union Parishad members, teachers, officials, journalists and NGO representatives.

They said about one third area in the coastal belt with about 710 km coastline in 39 upazilas will be worst hit by the sea level rise as well as other impacts of climate change, affecting millions of people.

Sundarbans, a world heritage site, will be lost to the sea if protective measures are not taken right now, they said.

They urged the government to immediately start a massive afforestation programme in the coastal areas and take steps to stop intrusion of saline water into the mainland.