Dhaka: Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo today emphasized the importance of Bangladesh’s longstanding bilateral and friendly relations with the United Kingdom (UK). He made these remarks during a meeting with British Deputy High Commissioner to Bangladesh James Goldman at the ministry office in Dhaka.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the meeting was also attended by State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shaikh Faridul Islam. The discussions focused on enhancing cooperation between Bangladesh and the UK in areas such as environmental protection, sustainable development, pollution control, renewable energy expansion, carbon credit, climate financing, biodiversity conservation, and the protection of the Sundarbans.
Minister Mintoo welcomed the British Deputy High Commissioner and highlighted that pollution control is a top priority for the current government. He mentioned that the government is implementing various programs to reduce pollution in air, water, and waste. Additionally, there is a push to expedite the waste-to-energy project in Savar, and the minister sought the UK’s cooperation in earning carbon credits from the carbon market. Funds from this sector would be used to address climate change impacts.
The minister also stated that the government is focusing on planting 250 million trees over the next five years, enhancing conservation efforts in the Sundarbans, and expanding capacity building, training, and investment to address coastal salinity issues in line with its electoral commitment.
British Deputy High Commissioner James Goldman expressed a willingness to further expand cooperation with Bangladesh in the environment, forest, and climate sectors. He emphasized the need for greater coordinated efforts on issues of mutual interest.
Senior officials from both the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the British High Commission in Bangladesh attended the meeting.