Rich nations should help countries at risk to deal with climate change
British MP Rushnara tells reception in Sylhet
Bangladesh-born British MP Rushnara Ali receives a crest from Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) Mayor Badaruddin Ahmed Kamran at a reception arranged in her honour by SCC yesterday afternoon. Photo: STAR
Bangladesh-born British MP Rushnara Ali has said wealthy nations have a great role to play in reducing carbon emission and providing financial assistance to the vulnerable countries to enhance their capability to adapt to the global warming. "I will do my best to mobilise international funds to assist the most vulnerable countries like Bangladesh in adapting to climate change impacts. I will try to ensure that climate change continues to be a priority of the British government," she said at a civic reception accorded in her honour by Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) yesterday afternoon. SCC Mayor Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran chaired the reception while former mayor of Tower Hamlet Council in the UK Golam Martuza, Bangladesh lawmakers Mahmud Us Samad Chowdhury and Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury, Sylhet Public Prosecutor Mesbah Uddin Siraj and Leading University Vice Chancellor Prof Kabir Hossain and Ward Councillor Rezaul Hasaan Lodi alias Koyes Lodi spoke, among others. "It is a great pleasure and privilege for me, to be a lawmaker in the British parliament. I am thankful to British-Bangladeshi community in the UK as well as others in my constituency. The first generation immigrants played a great role, helping us to reach the present position," said an emotion-choked Rushnara. Asked how the campaign like Shadow Climate Tribunal, scheduled to be held in Dhaka on November 8, would help the cause of Bangladesh in terms of climate change issues, the first ever Bangladesh-born British MP said it would be a unique way to create awareness among the people across the globe about the adverse impacts of the climate change and how badly it affects the life and property in a vulnerable country. "Bangladesh is a country of potentialities. It is also facing huge challenges and concerns. A lot many things are to be done for the poor and distressed, especially for those among the women. "This is my first trip back to Bangladesh as an elected member of Parliament for Bethnal Green and Bow in London. It is a great honour as a representative of the UK people to be returning to Bangladesh my country of birth'," she said. Rushnara, who came to Dhaka on November 4 at the invitation of international development organisation Oxfam, is scheduled to return on November 9. On a three-day visit, Rushnara reached Sylhet on Friday afternoon. The SCC mayor welcomed her at the Osmani Internatinal Airport as she landed by a flight of United Airways at 2:00pm. Hailing from Biswanath upazila, Rushnara migrated to the UK with the other members of her family when she was seven.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments