'Develop early warning system to minimise natural disasters'

The three-day workshop on 'Monitoring and early warning of droughts' was organised by the Saarc Meteorological Research Centre (SMDR) at its seminar room at Agargaon in the city.

Addressing as chief guest Advisor for Foreign Affairs Reaz Rahman said, "While on one hand we have to face natural disasters, on the other hand we are confronted with the emerging threats from climate change and global warming."

"The phenomenon of global warming and its disastrous consequences are a matter of great concern for all of us and some adverse impacts of global climate change have already started showing effects in the form of aberrations of weather in various parts of the Saarc region," he added.

Giving example of increased frequency and severity of floods and droughts in South Asia, Reaz Rahman said, "We under the umbrella of Saarc have to look after our own interests and this calls for a greater regional cooperation and coordination to face the emerging situation."

He said the workshop is of utmost importance for not only Bangladesh but also for all other Saarc member states as draughts are affecting most of the semi-arid and arid areas of western part of the Saarc region. The agriculture and other activities are being affected due to prolonged droughts, he added.

Mesbah Uddin Ahmed, secretary to the Ministry of Defence, said meteorological and hydrological processes responsible for droughts are common among the member states of Saarc region.

Because of the commonness of the processes causing droughts, the monitoring and early warning of draughts along with the preparedness and management are very important task in the whole region, he added.

SMRC Director Md Akram Hossain and its head of theoretical division Dr Kranti Prasad also spoke at the inaugural session.

Forty-six participants from different Saarc countries are taking part in the workshop.