DHAKA, Dec 10, 2020 (BSS) – The International Mountain Day-2020 will
be observed tomorrow in the country like elsewhere across the world
aiming to increase attention to the importance of mountains.
About 22 percent of the world’s land area is mountainous and the
region is home to about 12 percent of the world’s population and 60 to
80 percent of fresh (sweet) water sources.
The day is being observed since 2003 after the UN declaration of
International Year of Mountains came in 2002 under the phenomenon that
unfortunately mountains are under threat from climate change and
overexploitation.
As the global climate continues to warm, mountain people – some of
the world’s poorest – face even greater struggles to survive. The
rising temperatures also mean that mountain glaciers are melting at
unprecedented rates, affecting freshwater supplies downstream for
millions of people.
President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave
separate messages on the eve of the day.
In his message, the President said, “It is very much essential to
accommodate the youth community for protecting environment of the
hilly regions as environment at the hilly regions are becoming
‘imbalanced’ due to the impact of the climate change.”
Hilly region is containing one of the different landscape
specialties in Bangladesh, he said, adding that the observance of the
International Mountain Day will increase awareness among the people on
the life and culture of the hilly people.
In another message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, almost 22
percent area of the world is hilly region which is the home to 12
percent of the world population, adding that mountains are 60 to 80
percent sweet water source in the world.
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the
first who had turned the hilly people to the mainstream of
development, said the Prime Minister. She added, “Bangabandhu has
given the instruction to maintain particular quota in the college,
university and technical institutes for the students living in the
hilly areas in 1973.”
The Awami League government is working relentlessly for the
development of the hilly region, said the premier. “We have signed a
peace agreement on December 2 in 1997 for permanent peace and
sustainable development of the Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT)”, she said
in her message.
Both the president and the premier wished the overall success of all
the programmes which will be organized on the occasion of
‘International Mountain Day 2020’.