BSS :
The International Mountain Day-2021 will be observed today in the country like elsewhere across the world aiming to increase attention to the importance of mountains.
This year’s theme of the day is ‘Sustainable Mountain Tourism’.
The day is being observed since 2003 after the UN declaration of International Year of Mountains came in 2002 under the phenomenon that unfortunately mountains are under threat from climate change and over exploitation.
As the global climate continues to warm, mountain people – some of the world’s poorest – face even greater struggles to survive.
The rising temperatures also mean that mountain glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates, affecting freshwater supplies downstream for millions of people.
President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages on the eve of the day.
In his message, the President said, “The hilly districts with natural beauty are very attractive destinations for travelers. Extensive infrastructural development is taking place in the regions so that tourists can enjoy the beauty of the mountains in a comfortable way.”
Hilly region is containing one of the different landscape specialties in Bangladesh, the head of the state said, adding that the observance of the International Mountain Day will increase awareness among the people on the life and culture of the hilly people.
In another message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, almost 22 percent area of the world is hilly region which is the home to 12 percent of the world population, adding that mountains are 60 to 80 percent sweet water source in the world.
