A cycle rally was held in Chatmohar upazila of Pabna on Saturday morning to demand climate finance through grants and the cancellation of debts for climate-vulnerable countries like Bangladesh.
The rally, organised by Cholonbil Rokkhay Amra (We, for the Protection of Cholonbil) with support from Dhara (We, for Earth), began at 10 am from the Shaheed Minar premises. Students from various schools and colleges joined the event, which was followed by a discussion on the impacts of climate change.
Speakers highlighted that Bangladesh is among the nations most affected by the adverse consequences of climate change, despite contributing minimally to its causes. They stressed that wealthy nations, largely responsible for global warming, should provide climate financing in the form of grants rather than loans, and should cancel existing debts to support vulnerable countries.
The discussion was presided over by journalist Helalur Rahman Jewel, convener of Cholonbil Rokkhay Amra. Among others, Sharif Mahmud Sanju, principal of Chatmohar Women’s Degree College; coordinator Jahangir Alam Madhu; journalist Pabitra Talukder (Jugantor), and Shamim Hasan Milon (Samakal) also addressed the gathering.
Organisers noted that the programme was part of a broader global campaign for climate justice, coinciding with the G7 summit in Canada, the UNFCCC intersessional meeting in Germany, and the United Nations development conference in Spain.