Deputy Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Habibun Nahar said that the government is working tirelessly to make the shipbreaking industry environmentally friendly and safe. The Ministry of Environment is working with other ministries to ensure that hazardous chemicals, public health risks, threats to biodiversity and noise pollution are controlled in shipwrecks.
Hazardous Waste and Shipwreck Waste Management Rules, 2011; Hazardous Waste (E-Waste) Management Rules, 2021, Solid Waste Management Rules, 2021, Medical-Waste (Management and Processing) Rules, 2008 enacted by the Government are being followed in this regard. For the proper implementation of these rules, in case of any breaking any ship, the concerned officers of the Department of Environment inspect regularly.
The Deputy Minister of Environment said these things in a bilateral meeting with the delegation led by Norway's Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment Ragnhild Sjoner Syrstad in the conference room of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Wednesday.
Among others, Ambassador of Norway to Bangladesh Espen Rikter-Svendsen, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Additional Secretary Sanjay Kumar Bhowmik, Deputy Secretary Mohammad. Abdul Wadud Chowdhury; Norwegian Embassy Deputy Head of Mission Silje Fines Wannebo & other concerned officials and leaders of the Norwegian Shipowners' Association were present on the occasion.
At that time, Norway's Deputy Minister for Climate and Environment Ragnhild Sjoner Syrstad and Ambassador Espen Rikter-Svendsen requested the Ministry of Environment to assist Ministry of Industry in ratifying the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmental Recycling of Ships. The Deputy Minister of Norway said that Bangladesh is a priority country in providing assistance from the Norwegian Government's Climate Investment Fund. In this regard, Bangladesh will be assisted in dealing with the climate. She said the assistance given to Bangladesh through various United Nations agencies will also continue.
Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr Farhina Ahmed said, Bangladesh is the 7th most affected country due to climate change. As a result, Bangladesh is losing a huge number of resources. At the same time, she sought technical and financial support from Norway in other areas including capacity building, chemical waste control, establishment of green industry in order to protect international commitments. The secretary said that if the developed countries including Norway helps, it will be possible to protect Bangladesh from the negative effects of climate change by implementing the national adaptation plan prepared by the Bangladesh government. The Environment Secretary also said that his ministry will assist the Ministry of Industry in ratifying the Hong Kong Convention after following environmental regulations.
During the discussion, both sides pledged to work together in various areas related to climate change, including controlling plastic pollution in the sea, renewable energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Emphasis is placed on moving forward together into the future by identifying areas of cooperation. The two sides also agreed to deepen cooperation between the two countries in other international forums including COP28.
