Staff Correspondent

Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo on Tuesday has called for enhanced regional cooperation, fair water sharing, and technology transfer to strengthen drought resilience during the ministerial dialogue titled "Accelerating Drought Resilience" at the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

Highlighting the interconnected challenges of drought and land degradation in Bangladesh, the Minister noted that the northwestern region faces regular dry spells and depleting groundwater levels, while coastal areas experience saline water intrusion that threatens agricultural lands and freshwater sources.

To address these vulnerabilities, the Minister outlined national initiatives, including the Bangladesh Agro-Meteorological Information Systems (BAMIS) for advisory services, the National Green Mission targeting the plantation of 250 million saplings, and a massive undertaking to excavate and re-excavate nearly 20,000 kilometers of canals, rivers, and water bodies over the next five years to boost surface water availability.

Emphasizing basin-wide collaboration within the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna basin, Minister Mintoo underscored that ensuring adequate water flow during dry seasons is vital to mitigating land degradation and protecting livelihoods.

Ministers, deputy ministers, and heads of delegations from various countries, alongside observers from international organizations such as the FAO, UNDP, UNEP, and others, participated in the high-level dialogue.