DHAKA:  Bangladesh may suffer loss of 6.7 percent of total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2050 due to climate change, says World Bank.

The World Bank presented a report regarding this, at a program held at Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka on Wednesday (Sept 26).

Two-thirds of Bangladeshis are at risk of climate change, which is highest for any South Asian countries. 13 crore 40 lakh people will be affected due to negative effects of temperature rise. In other South Asian countries, the risk is half in proportion to the total population, said the report.

Temperature could rise at a rate of 2.5 percent by 2050, if the issues which came through Paris Climate Summit related to tackling the risks are not considered. Now, it increases by 1-1.5 percent each year, reveals the report.

“We are in a much better position than others in tackling climate. We're doing fine. However, there is a need for more interest on low interest to cope with the climate. Current government is doing a lot of good work. The government also provided some loans in this regard,” said Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, at the program.

Qimiao Fan, World Bank’s new country director to Bangladesh, also attended the program.

BDST: 1610 HRS, SEP 26, 2018

AH/SI