Dhaka, 13 November 2026: State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ms. Shama Obaed Islam, MP called for advanced technological and financial support to strengthen early warning system to save lives and properties at a high-level event titled ‘Early Warnings for All: Delivering on Our Promise to Protect Everyone’. The event was convened by the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of COP31 on 11 November 2026. It was attended by Heads of States/ Governments, Ministers for Environment and Disaster Management.
Secretary, ministry of environment and forests, dr. Fahmida Khanam accompanied the Hon. State minister during the meeting.
In her deliberations, the State Minister highlighted the evolution of the early warning systems in Bangladesh since its independence, which has significantly slashed casualties over the years. She informed the audience that Bangladesh has invested a lot in forecasting, building shelters, evacuation, and above all in training a huge pool of community volunteers, around 50% of whom are women, for responding to disasters. She reiterated her government’s goodwill to protect its citizens from the wrath of climate change by focusing on adoption of AI and other emerging technologies to improve effectiveness of Bangladesh’s early warning systems.
The State Minister said that installation of highly-developed early warning systems require huge financial investment and technological support. In this regard, she called upon the developed countries to come forward with their generous support. She also emphasised regional cooperation in data sharing to establish effective early warning system.