Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)– Former US Vice President Al Gore telephoned Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from Antarctica Saturday evening and thanked her for playing important role in projecting the adverse impact of the climate change and her fight against carbon emission that badly affects Bangladesh.
“Al Gore telephoned Sheikh Hasina at Ganobhaban at 6:32 pm (local time) on behalf of the participants of the voyage to Antarctica,” Special Assistant (Media) to the Prime Minister Mahbubul Haque Shakil told reporters in the capital Dhaka.
During about 20-minute telephonic conversation, the former US vice-president projected the impact of the climate change on the most vulnerable countries. Al Gore highly praised the steps of the Bangladesh government to tackle the climate change impact in the country. 
He also thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her initiatives to set up a climate change trust fund and raise the issue in the international forums.
In response, the prime minister said Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries due to climate change though its contribution to carbon emission is very insignificant.
She said the developed countries will have to play the leading role in tackling the climate change impact in the world as they are mostly responsible for it.
Al Gore has arranged the voyage to Antarctica, titled “Destination Reality- 2012”, a journey to inspire, understanding, collaboration and action, as part of a campaign to raise awareness against global warming,
Environment and Forests Minister Hasan Mahmud and over 100 fellow travelers from different parts of the world joined the cruise.
The voyage that began on January 29 from Argentina is expected to end on February 6. Al Gore has taken his fight against climate change to Antarctica as part of a cruise organised by his Climate Reality Project.
Hasan Mahmud earlier hoisted the national flag of Bangladesh in Antarctica during his visit with former US Vice President Al Gore.
 
BBN/SSR/AD-05Feb12-12:50 am (BST)