Bangladesh, Sweden to work together on climate change

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DHAKA, March 14, 2021 (BSS) – Sweden has expressed keen interest to work
with Bangladesh on climate change and other issues, including renewable
energy, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, development activities and
climate change.

Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation Per Olsson Fridh
expressed the eagerness at a bilateral meeting with Environment, Forests and
Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin at the latter’s office at Secretariat
here today, said a press release.

During the meeting, they also discussed other issues, including ecosystem
management, sustainable environment, conservation of biodiversity including
terrestrial and aquatic animals, management of medical waste, control of
various types of pollution and tackling the effects of climate change in
Bangladesh.

Deputy Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change 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, Joint Secretary ( Climate Change) Sanjay Kumar Bhowmik and Director
of the Department of Environment (Climate Change and International
Convention) Mirza Shawkat Ali along with other senior officials of the
ministry and the Swedish Embassy were present at the meeting.

Referring to the celebration of the golden jubilee of Bangladesh’s
independence, Md Shahab Uddin greeted Swedish Minister for International
Development Cooperation Per Olsson Fridh. Noting that Sweden is one of the
first countries to recognize Bangladesh, he said, friendly and cooperative
relations between the two countries have been existed since then (Sweden
recognized Bangladesh after independence).

The minister recalled the Swedish government’s contributions with gratitude
to implement various projects in Bangladesh.

Shahab Uddin said his ministry has 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.

The present government is working sincerely to deal with adverse effects of
the climate change and control environmental pollution, he said, adding that
Bangladesh is leading in various international forums on climate change.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is currently serving as the
Chairperson of the Climate Vulnerability Forum, the environment minister
added.

Moreover, the establishment of the Global Center of Adaptation’s Regional
Office in Dhaka has enabled Bangladesh to play an effective role in climate
change in South Asia and the international arena, he said.

The meeting identified different areas of cooperation between the two
countries and emphasized on moving forward together in the future.

The Swedish minister Per Olsson Fridh congratulated all Bangladeshi
citizens on the occasion of golden jubilee of Bangladesh’s independence.

Referring to Sweden’s strong position to save the planet, he said his
country would work closely with a friendly country like Bangladesh.

Fridh lauded Bangladesh’s Delta Plan-2100 and the Eighth-Fifth Annual Plan.
He invited the minister to attend the UN Conference on Human Environment in
Stockholm.