Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed concern about the impact of climate change on the lives of people in Asia and the Pacific region, as well as the national and regional stability. She highlighted natural disasters and fuel shortages as major obstacles to development in the region, emphasizing that global warming poses a serious risk to all. Hasina made these remarks during the opening session of the CIRDAP second ministerial meeting on 'Rural development in Asia and the Pacific' at Dhaka Sheraton hotel. The meeting, attended by representatives from 14 member states of CIRDAP and a few non-member countries, is taking place 23 years after the first one in 1987. The prime minister also noted the increasing urbanization and growing pressure on fuel due to the effects of globalization. She advised the leaders of the region to address the issues caused by climate change and globalization, warning that rural development and poverty eradication programs will not be effective without sustainable results. The prime minister expressed concern about the impact of natural disasters and the economic crisis on food security for the poor. She urged the ministers to work together to find practical solutions to common problems and emphasized the importance of increasing investment and exports to counter the drawbacks of globalization. She also highlighted the need to recognize the challenges and opportunities of globalization from a regional standpoint, noting the identified threats of climate change to low-lying countries. Hasina outlined the poverty reduction initiatives taken by her government, such as the creation of a poverty reduction strategy paper, expansion of social safety nets, increased agriculture subsidies, and efforts to ensure consistent power supply for irrigation. She announced the upcoming implementation of the 'one-house one-farm' program. Other speakers at the event included CIRDAP chairperson and Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Syed Ashraful Islam, State Minister Jahangir Kabir Nanok, Secretary of the Rural Development and Cooperatives Division Rokeya Sultana, and CIRDAP Director General Durga P Paudyal.