Rights activists yesterday (Friday) held a rally in front of the Jatiyo Press Club (JPC) and organised a photography exhibition at Dhaka University (DU), on the 25th anniversary of Cyclone Marian. On April 29,1991, the cyclone had struck coastal areas with wind speeds reaching 225 km per hour and whipping up sea surges. About half a million people were killed. The activists stressed that protecting the coastal people and the land was fundamental in the quest for climate adaptation with the government's own funds.
 They said that instead of waiting for foreign funds, the government should take immediate steps to construct embankments to protect the coastal people and the land.
They criticised the government for over-emphasising the infrastructure for export-oriented economic growth, rather than giving importance to critical infrastructure to protect the coastal people and the land. They also demanded reforming the Water Development Board, the government agency responsible for constructing coastal embankments.
The rally was organised by 16 coastal bodies—Uddipan, Uddayan Bangladesh, MMC, SDS, Coast Trust, Grameen Jono Unnayan Sangstha, Dak Diye Jai, Docap, Dwip Unnayan Sangstha, Nolchity Model Society, PHALS, Pirojpur Gono Unnayan Samiti,
PRAN, Prantojon, Sangkalpa Trust, Humanity Watch.
Mostafa Kamal Akhanda of Coast Trust was the moderator, and it was addressed by Shawkat Ali Tutul, Zayed Iqbal Khan, Aminul Rasul Babul, Rezaul Karim Chowdhury and others.
The photography exhibition at the TSC, with shots taken by photographer Din M Shibly, was arranged by Leaves and Branches, Dhaka University Photography Society, Dhaka University Environment Society, Dhaka University Cultural Society, Dhaka University Tourist Society, Environment Move, Coast Trust and EquityBD.