State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam on Tuesday urged the World Bank to use the proposed Climate Loss and Damage Fund to meet the needs of climate migrants on a priority basis.

“We would urge the World Bank as the proposed custodian of the (loss and damage) fund to give precedence to the issue of both preventing and managing climate-induced migration in resource-constrained settings,” he said while addressing the national preparatory consultation for the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) as the chief guest.

He said they have already observed that the flow of climate migrants from the coastal areas and river banks to the megacities has increased significantly.

The state minister also said that the issue of climate-induced human mobility requires the better understanding and attention of policymakers and relevant stakeholders.

Senior Secretary of the Foreign Ministry Masud Bin Momen stressed on the relations between climate and migration, saying that Bangladesh continues to grapple with the challenges posed by climate change.

Senior Secretary of the expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment ministry Dr. Ahmed Munirus Saleheen, highlighted the need to do more inclusive and comprehensive studies on migration.

Chief of Mission of IOM Bangladesh Abdusattor Esoev, and French Ambassador to Bangladesh Marie Masdupuy also spoke at the event.