Government working tirelessly to make shipbreaking industry environmentally friendly: Deputy Environment Minister, Bangladesh.
Habibun Nahar, Deputy Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC), Bangladesh, said, “The Bangladesh government is working tirelessly to make the ship-breaking industry environmentally friendly and safe. The Ministry of Environment is collaborating with other ministries to prevent the harmful effects of shipwrecks on public health and biodiversity.”
The Indian government is following specific waste management rules, such as the Hazardous Waste and Shipwreck Waste Management Rules of 2011, the Hazardous Waste (E-Waste) Management Rules of 2021, the Solid Waste Management Rules of 2021, and the Medical-Waste (Management and Processing) Rules of 2008.
The officers from the Department of Environment, Bangladesh, are inspecting shipwrecks to make sure the regulations are being followed.
The Deputy Minister of MOEFCC said these things in a bilateral meeting with the delegation led by Norway’s Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment Ragnhild Sjönar Syrstad in the Ministry’s conference room on May 21, 2023, in her office.
At that time, Norwegian Ambassador Espen Ikter-Sevendsen, secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, was appointed to Bangladesh. Farhina Ahmed, Additional Secretary (Environment) Sanjay Kumar Bhowmick, Deputy Secretary.
Abdul Wadud Chowdhury, Norwegian Embassy Deputy Head of Mission Silje Fines Wannebo, and other related officials and leaders of the Norwegian Shipowners Association were present.
At that time, Norway’s Deputy Minister for Climate and Environment Ragnhild Sjönar Syrstad and Ambassador Espen Richter-Svendsen requested the Ministry of Environment to assist the Bangladesh government in ratifying the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmental Recycling of Ships.
The Deputy Minister said Bangladesh is a priority country in assisting the Norwegian Government’s Climate Investment Fund. In this regard, Bangladesh will be helped in dealing with the climate by contacting the regional office of Thailand. Also, the assistance given to Bangladesh through various United Nations agencies will continue.
Farhina Ahmed, Secretary of the MOEFCC, said, “Bangladesh is the 7th most affected country due to climate change. As a result, Bangladesh is losing a huge amount of resources.” She asked Norway to help in different areas, like training, managing chemical waste, and creating eco-friendly industries to meet global goals.
The secretary mentioned that Norway and other developed countries could assist in protecting Bangladesh from the harmful impacts of climate change. They can do this by implementing the national adaptation plan created by the Bangladeshi government.
Both sides agreed to collaborate on addressing climate change issues, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting renewable energy, and tackling ocean plastic pollution.
Emphasis is placed on moving forward 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.
