Thousands of people have participated in global protests urging world leaders at the COP29 climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, to set a new climate finance target and to rapidly phase out fossil fuels. Along with the protesters in Baku, more than 150 coordinated actions have taken place in over 30 cities and provinces across 24 countries. As part of these global actions, on Friday, November 15, 2024, a simultaneous rally and cycle rally were held at 10 locations, including the capital Dhaka and 7 coastal districts, starting at 9:00 AM.
In the morning, a demonstration and bicycle rally event demanding climate justice took place in front of the National Museum at Shahbagh in Dhaka. The event was jointly organized by the environmental and climate change citizen groups Dhoritri Rokhhay Amra (DHORA), Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Asian Peoples Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD), Asia Energy Network (AEN), Bangladesh Cycle Lane Implementation Committee, and the Dhaka University Cycling Club.
The rally and demonstration were chaired by Ibnul Syed Rana, Chairman of the Nirapad Development Foundation and leader of DHORA, with Mamun Kabir, the Publicity Coordinator of DHORA, facilitating the event. The gathering also featured speeches from Faisal Ahmed, leader of DHORA and Editor of River Bangla; Iqbal Faruk, Head of Research at Waterkeepers Bangladesh; Aminul Islam Tubbus, President of the Bangladesh Cycle Lane Implementation Committee; Lal Mia, leader of the Turag River Movement; and Tawheedur Rahman, President of the Dhaka University Cycling Club.
Ibnul Syed Rana said, “When we speak of climate justice here, our voices are reaching the climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan. We are bearing the consequences of the development model of the Western developed countries. We did not suffer due to our own actions, but because of the development done by the global north. Therefore, the damages caused by them must be compensated by them, not as loans, but as unconditional compensation into the climate fund.”
Faisal Ahmed said, “The people of Bangladesh are the biggest victims of climate impacts. Look at the suffering of the people in the coastal areas—women and children there are falling ill and are not receiving medical care. There is a severe shortage of clean drinking water. Homes are being destroyed, and people are being forced into refugee-like conditions. We want an end to this situation, and the responsibility for this lies with the developed countries. They must take responsibility and provide compensation. To achieve this, we must raise our voices from wherever we are.”
Iqbal Faruk stated, “We demand global climate justice. Along with demanding funding for the climate fund, we also call for a halt to carbon emissions. Because without stopping carbon emissions, the funds from the climate fund will not be enough to compensate for the immense damage we are facing. This needs to be in line with limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.”
Mamun Kabir said,
“The countries of the Global North have been burning fossil fuels for 200 years, and we, the countries of the Global South, are paying the price. To save the planet, we need to reduce carbon emissions and transition to renewable energy instead of fossil fuels. We must stop global wars and genocide and direct the resources to the climate fund. With COP29, we call on the world leaders for climate justice. We demand at least $5 trillion annually for climate finance and compensation for climate fund.”
Aminul Islam Tubbus added, “We ride bicycles. We do not pollute the environment, nor do we burn fossil fuels. We humbly urge the government to implement cycling lanes for safer cycling.”
Following the rally, a vibrant cycle parade with placards featuring slogans for climate finance, ending fossil fuel use, transitioning to renewable energy, stopping global wars and genocides, and demanding climate justice took place. The rally began at the National Museum at Shahbagh, went around various streets of Dhaka University, and returned to Shahbagh.
Simultaneously, climate justice rallies and bicycle rally were held in the coastal regions of the country. These events were organized in solidarity with the global movement in the following areas: Mongla in Bagerhat district, Pekua and Kutubdia in Cox’s Bazar, Chatmohar in Pabna, Kolatola in Patuakhali, Sadar in Habiganj, and Taltali, Patharghata, and Sadar in Barguna district.