Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) - A British parliamentarian of Bangladeshi descent, Rushanara Ali, arrives in the capital Dhaka on Sunday on a week's visit to talk about climate change impacts on Bangladeshi communities.
She said in a press release issued by herself ahead of the visit that millions of people in coastal Bangladesh have been affected due to weather extremes in recent years.
It is vital to highlight the impending dangers on Bangladeshis ahead of Durban climate summit in December to ensure progress towards providing support to these communities in disaster preparedness, she said.
“Now is the time to act against climate change and to ensure that steps forward are agreed across countries to mobilize support to help developing countries to cope with the effects of climate change. I am calling on the British Prime Minister to show international leadership on this issue and act now before it is too late,” she added.
A press release of Oxfam, the organisation that invited the British MP to Bangladesh, said she will be accorded a reception dinner on Monday and will take part in a climate dialogue, "Expectations from Durban: UK and Bangladesh perspectives", the following day.
Rushanara is expected to join a meeting to mark the 40th anniversary of publication "Testimony of Sixty" at the Liberation War Museum on October 5. Planning Minister Air Vice Marshal (retd) AK Khondker will attend it as the chief guest.
BBN/SSR/AD-02Oct11-10:24 am (BST)