The seminar titled 'Climate change: Bangladesh in deep crisis' was organised by Gono Unnayan Gronthagar at its auditorium in the city.

"The awareness programme has just started but we are not aware of the entire issue. Why don't we take initiatives to protect our water bodies, forests or farm land if we are well aware of the situation?" asked Prof Mozaffer Ahmad, president of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa), while delivering a speech as chief guest.

Dr Ahsan Uddin Ahmad, executive director of Centre for Global Change, in his keynote speech presentation showed how the climate change will cause frequent disasters.

"The intensity of heat will be increased, the amount of rain and its duration will also be increased which will lead to droughts and frequent and prolonged flood," he added.

Dr Ahsan said due to this climate change, the people would face risks from frequent natural disaster, food scarcity, unemployment problems and health hazards.

" Within three to four decades, our Sundarbans might disappear due to increased salinity in water caused by climate change" he added saying that people at grassroots level have to be brought to the initiatives of adaptation.

Prof Nasreen Ahmed of geography and environment department of Dhaka University, said the policymakers should sincerely think of the environmental refugees, who will have to be relocated from vulnerable places.

Prof KBS Rashid stressed on research and strong database so that the people concerned can get a clear view of the situation.

He said though there is a climate change cell in the environment department, they are not involved in disseminating their information.

Md Abdus Salam of environment department said leading newspapers or electronic media are not cooperating with them in broadcasting the information through advertisements.

The programme was moderated by Rashed Iqbal.