Team members Mahmud Selim and Atiqul Islam Chowdhury made the call on behalf of the Trust at a press conference at Cox's Bazar Press Club.

They pointed out that 32 per cent area of the coastal belt having about 2,400 kilometre coastline will be worst affected by rise in sea level as well as other impact of climatic changes. Millions of people will become climate refugees following inundation of 10 to 17 percent of landmass and salinity in the mainland, they said.

They warned that the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest and a world heritage site, might be lost to the sea, if protective measures are not taken to halt the catastrophy. They stressed on afforestation along the coastal belt and building of coastal embankment and cross dams, plantation of cyclonic wind-resistant trees like coconut, palm and bamboos, combating erosion and conducting river training.

In their presentation, the team members cited the example of Bhola, Kutubdia and a number of off-shore islands where erosion became a common phenomenon since 1960. They said the places are threatened due to adverse impact of raise in sea-level. They underscored the need for initiating climate change related research and launching massive campaign for raising awareness among people including farmers, fishermen and the entire community across the coastal belt.