Climate change biggest barrier to uplift: Mahmud

Water Resources Minister Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud on Wednesday stressed the importance of water resources management for ensuring inclusive growth of future development, saying that climate change is the biggest obstacle to developmental impact.

"If we can ensure proper use of water resources, the country will survive and sustainable development will be achieved," he said as the chief guest at the launching ceremony of three books at the Development Fair-2017, organised by Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) in the city.

Eminent economist, climate expert and president of PKSF Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad is the author of the three books. The books are: 'Sustainable Development and All That', 'Environment, Climate Change and Water Resources' and 'Different Crises are One Way'.

Among others, former professor Dr MA Baki Kholili of Dhaka University, Green University vice chancellor Dr M Golam Samdani Fakir, former managing director of WASA Dr Khondokar Azharul Haq and PKSF senior editorial adviser Professor Shofi Ahmed took part in the discussion on the books at the function with PKSF Managing Director Md Abdul Karim in the chair. Author of the books Professor Kholiquzzaman Ahmad responded to queries of the discussants.

According to a BSS report, the water resources minister said earlier development meant only economic development indicators, "but development is now an overall topic, we need to emphasize the fundamental rights of the people to achieve sustainable development targets".

Anisul Islam Mahmud said, "We have shown success in achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), now our turn is to move forward as the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been working strongly on this issue".

He said the three books will play a key role in the policy-making phase.

The three books are academic, statistics-based and research-oriented.