 Deputy Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry 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 harmful chemicals, risks to public health and threats to biodiversity are prevented in case of shipwrecks. Hazardous Waste and Shipwreck Waste Management Rules, 2011 enacted by the Government of India; Hazardous Waste (E-Waste) Management Rules, 2021, Solid Waste Management Rules, 2021, Medical-Waste (Management and Processing) Rules, 2008 are being followed. For the proper implementation of these rules, in case of any shipwreck, the concerned officers of the Department of Environment are regularly inspecting. 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 Sjönar Syrstad in the conference room of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change at the Secretariat today. Among others, Ambassador of Norway to Bangladesh Aspen Ektor-Sevendsen, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Additional Secretary (Environment) Sanjay Kumar Bhowmik, Deputy Secretary Md. Abdul Wadud Chowdhury; Norwegian Embassy Deputy Head of Mission Silje Fines Wannebo and 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 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 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 by contacting the regional office of Thailand. Also, the assistance given to Bangladesh through various United Nations agencies will 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 amount of resources. At the same time, he 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 world 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. 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.
