The environment ministry is working with other ministries to ensure that hazardous chemicals, public health risks, threats to biodiversity and noise pollution are controlled in shipwrecks, said Habibun Nahar, Deputy Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

The government was working tirelessly to make the shipbreaking industry environmentally safe and friendly, she said.

The environment ministry is working with other ministries to ensure that hazardous chemicals, public health risks, threats to biodiversity and noise pollution are controlled in shipwrecks, she said.

The deputy minister of environment told this in a bilateral meeting with the delegation led by Norway’s Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment Ragnhild Sjoner Syrstad in the conference room of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change at the Bangladesh Secretariat.

Among others, Ambassador of Norway to Bangladesh Espen Rikter-Svendsen, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr Farhina Ahmed, Additional Secretary (Environment) Sanjay Kumar Bhowmik, among other concerned officials and leaders of the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association, were present at the program, says a press release.

Hazardous Waste and Shipwreck Waste Management Rules, 2011; Hazardous Waste (E-Waste) Management Rules, 2021, Solid Waste Management Rules, 2021, Medical-Waste (Management and Processing) Rules, 2008 enacted by the government were asked to be followed in this regard.

For the proper implementation of these rules, the concerned officers of the Department of Environment would inspect regularly.

At that time, Norway’s Deputy Minister for Climate and Environment Ragnhild Sjoner Syrstad and Ambassador Espen Rikter-Svendsen requested the Ministry of Environment to assist Ministry of Industry in ratifying the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmental Recycling of Ships.

The deputy minister of Norway 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. She said the assistance given to Bangladesh through various United Nations agencies will also continue.

Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr Farhina Ahmed said that Bangladesh is the seventh most affected country due to climate change. As a result, Bangladesh is losing a huge number of resources.

At the same time, she sought technical and financial support from Norway in other areas including capacity building, chemical waste control, and establishment of green industry in order to protect international commitments.

The secretary said: “If the developed countries 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.”

She also said that the ministry will assist the Ministry of Industry in ratifying the Hong Kong Convention after following environmental regulations.

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, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Emphasis was 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.