Speakers at a launching ceremony of 'Social Watch Report-2012' said the rich countries responsible for climate change should assist Bangladesh to face the environmental challenge. Climate change is a serious threat to Bangladesh as rise of sea level due to global warming might displace millions of people living in coastal areas, they added. Unnayan Samannay and Social Watch, two non-government organizations arranged the ceremony at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) auditorium. Former adviser to the caretaker government Rasheda K Chowdhury and Chief Moderator of Equity Bangladesh Rezaul Karim Chowdhury addressed the function. The report reflecting views of 66 countries was launched on February 09 at the United Nations. Rasheda KChowdhury said the government should ensure sustainable development for the citizens keeping the environment safe. Bangladesh is in a vulnerable condition in terms of climate change, environment pollution and river erosion which are contributing to increase of poverty. The Social Watch report said "Growing inequalities and unregulated finances are expropriating people everywhere from their fair share in the benefits of global prosperity. Our children will inherit the burden of deforestation, desertification, erosion of bio diversity and climate change." With a view toreverting this trend, the promise of universal dignity brought by human rightshas to be enforced and the rights of future generations need to be recognized and properly defended, the report added. Expressingconcern over influx of rural people to Dhaka City, speakers said every yearover five lakh people come here where there is no infrastructure to accommodatethem. About 45 percent of city dwellers live in slum areas in a subhumancondition, they mentioned. Infrastructuredevelopment outside Dhaka is very poor and rural development has been neglectedfor last two decades. It has created discrimination in income in differentregions, they added. Meanwhile,addressing a seminar on "Durban Outcome: Future Negotation Strategy andSustianble Development / RIO +20 Perspective" at Dhaka Reporters' Unity,leaders of civil society rights group on Monday expressed their concerns overGreen Economy which is being proposed by developed countries in Durban and haslaunched in RIO +20 draft declarations. They suggestedthe government to give emphasise on the concept of equity and justice inrespect of future climate negotiation. The seminarorganised jointly by right group network Equity and Justice Working GroupBangladesh (EquityBD) and Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihood (CSRL) wasmoderated by Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Chief Modertor, EquityBD. Sohrab Ali Sana,MP and Member of Parliamentory Standing Committee on Ministry of Forest andEnvironment, Dr. Ansarul Karim, Senior Member of Government UNFCCC NegotiationTeam, Dr. Aparup Chowdhury, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Forest andEnvironment; Ziaul Haque Mukta, Asia Regional Policy Coordinator of Oxfam GB,Qumrul Islam Chowhdury, Chairman of Environment Journalist Association, ZakirHossain Khan, Transparency International Bangladesh, Jahangir Hossain Masum ofCoastal Development Partnership and Aminur Rasul Babul of Unnayan Dhara, amongothers, addressed the function. Sayed Aminul Haque of EquityBD has presentedkey note paper. In his paper,Sayed Aminul Haque mentioned that in fact due to the obstinate stance ofdeveloped countries and advanced developed countries there was no agreement inDurban and it is now further delayed. Ziaul HaqueMukta of Oxfam and CSRL placed eight proposals including increase of secondcommitment period of Keyoto Protocol level of ambition, emphasise on theapproach that, all countries should reduce emission, maintain a provision thatno one later can deny or get out of future legally binding agreement and adequatefunding in Green Climate Fund specially from aviation and maritime tax sources. Dr. AporupChawdhury informed that, Bangladesh government is going to organize workshopsin the divisional districts to collect public opinion on this regard. He alsoinformed about the preparation of government for the Rio+ 20 summit. Dr, AnsarulKarim said that, there should be some effective open debate and discussion onBangladesh negotiati0on strategies. This will strengthen negotiators' effort inrealizing nation's interest. Sohrab Ali Sanasaid, there should be a common national consensus to finalize strategies toface the impact of climate change.