Staff Correspondent

 Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo held a courtesy meeting with Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Shri Dinesh Trivedi at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Monday . 

State Minister for Environment Sheikh Faridul Islam was also present during the meeting.

During the discussion, both sides agreed to hold the next meeting of the Joint Working Group under the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Sundarbans biodiversity conservation in Bangladesh. They also decided to host the next bilateral meeting in Bangladesh under the protocol signed for Royal Bengal Tiger conservation. However, it was resolved that the upcoming meeting on transboundary Asian elephant conservation will take place in India.

The meeting also covered broader issues including climate change adaptation, transboundary environmental challenges, carbon credit mechanisms, carbon emission reduction, and green economy development.

Environment Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo emphasized that as close neighbors, the ecological interests of Bangladesh and India are deeply interconnected. He noted that environmental challenges such as climate change, floods, droughts, river management, air pollution, and biodiversity loss transcend national borders. Addressing these issues requires mutual trust, exchange of data, and robust regional collaboration.

He reaffirmed Bangladesh's interest in advancing constructive ties with India based on mutual respect and shared interests, expressing hope for deeper environmental collaboration to secure a sustainable future for both nations.

State Minister Sheikh Faridul Islam highlighted the strategic importance of joint initiatives in safeguarding shared ecological ecosystems like the Sundarbans, describing the mangrove forest as a crucial natural shield against climate change and natural disasters.

Indian High Commissioner Shri Dinesh Trivedi expressed commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation for public welfare, emphasizing the immense potential for joint work in building climate resilience and sustainable development.

Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr. Fahmida Khanm was also present at the meeting.