GENEVA, Reuters - Climate change could erode the human rights of people living in small island states, coastal areas and parts of the world subjected to drought and floods, the United Nations Human Rights Council said on Friday.

In its first consideration of the issue, the UN forum's 47 member states endorsed by consensus a resolution stressing that global warming could threaten the livelihoods and welfare of many of the world's most vulnerable people.

Staff Correspondent

Foreign affairs adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury Tuesday stressed the need for a strong leadership to face the challenges of world climate change, and combat natural disasters together keeping the issue above politics.

Speaking at the opening session of Bangladesh-UK Climate Change Conference at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel, Iftekhar said Bangladesh was working for mitigating the fallout from natural disasters and for adaptation.

British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury Monday said climate change has become a very prominent feature of the UK’s engagement with Bangladesh, reports UNB.

“We are committed to putting developing countries at the heart of the world’s response to climate change,” he said, adding, “We see the compelling case for action in Bangladesh.

Due to uncontrolled human activities along the sandy parts of the sea beach of St. Martin''s island, the arrival of turtles for laying eggs has been reduced significantly, reports agency.

Besides, loitering of pariah dogs on the beach in search of turtle eggs and barking at egg laying turtles also create a situation that yearly visits of the beach by sea turtles is becoming rare.

Our Correspondent

The committee to save rivers at a press conference at the Khulna Press Club on Wednesday put forward their 10-point charter of demands to save the River Moyur that flows by the western side of the city.

The committee alleged that about nine kilometre stretch of the Moyur has turned into a stagnant water body after the Khulna city protection dam was built in 1982-83 years and the river gradually filled by throwing household wastes and pathological wastes.

Staff Correspondent

Policy planners on Monday said Bangladesh, among the least developed countries, would be the worst suffer of global environment degradation and rise in the sea level.

The government has to pay due importance to environmental issues and take infrastructural development plans to face the challenges, they said at a seminar organised on the occasion of Commonwealth Day.

Agency

Key measures to protect the river system are remaining unimplemented because of a lack of funds and coordinated policies, river and water experts say.

They add that river protection work has now been largely reduced to dredging at a few locations in the country to maintain navigability.

Staff Correspondent

A two-day National Haor Conference ended at the Institution of Engineers in Dhaka on Friday, recommending preparation of a Bangladesh Haor Declaration to be placed before the government for the development of haor regions.

The conference also formed a 21-member committee, headed by former finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, also an Awami League leader, to prepare the declaration.

Staff Correspondent

Save Environment Movement (SEM) on Thursday urged the government to immediately stop the construction work of Gulshan-Banani connecting bridge which they said being constructed violating the wetland protection act, environment protection act and environment protection rules.

Leaders of the organisation made the demand after visiting the site on Road 11 in Banani.

Staff Correspondent

Jurists, experts and right activists stressed the need for specific guidelines to protect the ecosystem of the country’s north-eastern haor areas, home to about twenty million people who are deprived of proper education, health and other basic rights.

They made the observation during the inauguration of a two-day first National Haor Congress on Thursday. Representatives form seven districts –– Sylhet, Sunamganj, Habiganj, Moulvibazar, Kishoreganj, Brahmanbaria and Netrakona –– attended the programme.

Our Correspondent

Various environmental organizations formed human chains on Wednesday to press home their demand to stop the survey by US oil and gas company Chevron in Lawachhera Reserve Forest.

The human chain was formed at Srimangal-Bhanugachh road adjacent to the Lawachhera reserve forest.

Agency

The season’s first nor’wester lashed the capital city, Sylhet, Comilla and other places in northern and central regions of the country early Tuesday, Met Office sources said.

A trough of a westerly low, stretching over Bangladesh from across the north western border, triggered the seasonal storm in the early hours of Tuesday, the sources said.