Bangladesh and Sweden will work together on climate change
By Adnan Tazvir
Mr Shahab Uddin, Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change of Bangladesh ( MoEFCC, Bangladesh), and Per Olson Friedh, Sweden’s Minister for International Development Cooperation, discussed working together in various fields related to the country’s renewable energy, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, multiple development activities and climate change in a bilateral discussion meeting.
The discussion was held on March 14, 2021, at the conference room of the ministry of MoEFCC, Bangladesh.
They discussed in detail cooperation with Bangladesh in other areas, including environment management, sustainable environment, conservation of biodiversity including terrestrial and aquatic animals, management of medical waste, control of various types of pollution, and tackling climate change in Bangladesh.
During the discussion, Deputy Minister of MoEFCC Begum Habibun Nahar, Swedish Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexandra Berg von Linde, Additional Secretary (Administration) of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change Mahmud Hasan, Additional Secretary (Development) Ahmad Shamim Al Razi, Jummas Change) Sanjay Kumar Bhowmik, Director of the Department of Environment (Climate Change and International Convention), Mirza Shawkat Ali, and senior officials of the Ministry and the Swedish Embassy were present.
Referring to the celebration of the golden jubilee of Bangladesh’s independence, Shahab Uddin greeted the Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation, Per Olson Friedh. He said, ‘Sweden is one of the first countries to recognize Bangladesh.
Friendly and cooperative relations have existed between the two countries since Sweden recognized Bangladesh with independence.
He recalled with gratitude the various projects implemented in Bangladesh with the funding of the Swedish government. The minister said his ministry had planted 10 million saplings across the country on the occasion of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, which will play an important role in protecting the environment.
Shahab Uddin said the present government is working sincerely to address the adverse effects of climate change and control environmental pollution.
Mentioning that Bangladesh is leading in various international forums on climate change, the Environment Minister said that the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina is currently serving as the Chairperson of the Climate Vulnerability Forum (CVF).
The establishment of the Global Centre for Adaptation’s Regional Office in Dhaka has enabled Bangladesh to play an influential role in climate change in South Asia and the international arena.
The meeting identified cooperation areas between the two countries and emphasized moving forward together in the future. Referring to Sweden’s strong position to save the planet, the Swedish minister said his government would work closely with a friendly country like Bangladesh.
He lauded the Delta plan-2100 and the Eighth-Fifth Annual Plan adopted by the Government of Bangladesh. Meanwhile, the Swedish Minister invited the Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change to attend the UN Conference on Human Rights in Stockholm + 50.
