Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed concern about the impact of climate change on the lives of people in Asia and the Pacific region, warning that it could disrupt national and regional stability. She highlighted natural disasters and fuel shortages as major obstacles to development in the region, emphasizing the serious risks posed by global warming. Hasina made these remarks during the opening session of the CIRDAP second ministerial meeting on 'Rural development in Asia and the Pacific' in Dhaka. The meeting, attended by representatives from 14 member states of CIRDAP and several non-member countries, is being held 23 years after the first meeting in 1987. The prime minister also noted the intensifying urbanization and increasing pressure on fuel due to globalization. She urged regional leaders to address the issues caused by climate change and globalization, warning that rural development and poverty alleviation efforts will not be effective without sustainable solutions. The prime minister expressed concern about the impact of natural disasters and the economic downturn on food security for the poor. She stressed the importance of unity and practical solutions to common challenges, emphasizing the need to increase investment and exports to counteract the negative effects of globalization. The prime minister also highlighted the importance of recognizing the challenges and opportunities of globalization from a regional standpoint, particularly in light of the threats posed by climate change to low-lying countries. Hasina detailed the poverty reduction initiatives of her government, such as creating a poverty reduction strategy paper, expanding social safety nets, raising agricultural subsidies, and ensuring consistent power supply for irrigation. She announced the upcoming implementation of the 'one-house one-farm' program. CIRDAP chairperson and local government and rural development minister Syed Ashraful Islam, state minister Jahangir Kabir Nanok, rural development and cooperatives division secretary Rokeya Sultana, and CIRDAP director general Durga P Paudyal also addressed the event.