National

Dec152024 by No Comments

Action will be taken against river and forestland encroachers: Environment Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, Climate Change, and Water Resources, stated that strict action will be taken against those encroaching on rivers and forestlands. She emphasized that the government is working tirelessly to keep the environment free from pollution. Development activities are being conducted in line with public expectations, avoiding destructive practices, and moving towards sustainable development.She made these remarks on the evening of December 15 while virtually attending as the Chief Guest at the inauguration of the "Eco Leaders Youth Empowering Initiative on Environment, Climate, and Renewable Energy for Bangladesh," held at the Bangladesh Military Museum, with her participation facilitated from Pan Pacific Sonargaon.The Advi...

Dec152024 by No Comments

A sustainable environment should be created in the Chittagong Hill Tracts through the conservation of the natural landscape, as stated by Adviser Supradip Chakma

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The Adviser on Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), Ambassador (Retd) Supradip Chakma, has emphasized the necessity of establishing a realistic framework for the sustainable development of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, ensuring the preservation of ecology, nature, and the environment. On Sunday, a two-member delegation from UNDP, led by International Project Manager Yuges Pradhanang, met with Ambassador Chakma at the Bangladesh Secretariat. This meeting served as an initial orientation discussion regarding the inclusion of local stakeholders in the development of the Technical Assistant Project Proposal (TAPP) for the UNDP initiative titled 'Ecosystem Restoration and Resilient Development in CHT,' along with other related project aspects. The ministry has indicated that a follow-up meeting will be ...

Dec132024 by No Comments

Environment Advisor Calls for Energy Sovereignty and Inclusive Transition Towards Sustainable Development

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Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, emphasized the need for energy sovereignty and inclusive energy transition to achieve sustainable development goals. She stated that Bangladesh's energy future must focus on clean, affordable, and reliable systems while addressing climate change and energy equity.Speaking at the closing program of the 2nd Conference of "Bangladesh Energy Prosperity 2050" on Friday at the BIAM Foundation Complex in Dhaka, she remarked, An opportunity for change has come in the energy sector. We need to find a way to achieve energy sovereignty. The government will continue to meet the demands of civil society, and there needs to be a dialogue on whether the energy policy should be revised or changed.The Advisor h...

Dec132024 by No Comments

Task Force to be Formed to Control Air Pollution will Operate Until the Next Monsoon: Syeda Rizwana Hasan

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Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, has stated that the government is making every effort to control air pollution. As part of this initiative, a task force will be formed very soon which will work until the next monsoon. Additionally, certain areas are set to be declared as "No Brickfield Zones." Recognizing that air pollution cannot be resolved overnight, citizens are being encouraged to wear masks. She further informed that old vehicles will be removed within the next six months, and the police have been instructed to restrict open trucks from entering the capital.She shared these updates during an inter-ministerial meeting held at the Local Government Division’s conference room in the Secretariat. The meeting focused on strategie...

Dec62024 by No Comments

Bangladesh Seeks Global Support to Restore Dhaka’s Water Bodies at UNCCD CoP16

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Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, has called for financial and technical assistance from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to establish a Blue Network in Dhaka city. This initiative aims to restore the city's rivers, canals, and water bodies, addressing pressing challenges like pollution and encroachment. She also stressed the need for a Comprehensive River Health Assessment System to monitor and enhance the ecological condition of rivers across Bangladesh.Environment Secretary Dr. Farhina Ahmed made these remarks during a bilateral meeting held on 5 December, with Dr. James Dalton, Director of IUCN’s Global Water Programme, on the sidelines of the UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaDr. Farhina Ahmed stated, Dh...

Dec52024 by No Comments

Government works to formulate volunteers’ policy lifting age limit: Kamrul Hasan

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The government is working to formulate a policy giving importance to volunteers irrespective of age so that anyone can work as a volunteer from the country and abroad if they want.Kamrul Hasan, Secretary Ministry of Relief and Disaster Management said this while speaking as the chief guest on a program to mark World Volunteer Day. The volunteer organization Voluntary Service Overseas, Bangladesh (VSO) held at the Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building of Dhaka University on Thursday to mark World Volunteer Day. The theme of World Volunteer Day this year is “Everything for Everyone”.He said, “Different types of disasters occur at different times. Our volunteers are standing by the people in all disasters. If the volunteers did not work with their hearts, we would not have been successf...

Dec42024 by No Comments

Judiciary Reform Commission discussion meeting with stakeholders

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As part of stakeholder engagement, the Judiciary Reform Commission organized a consultation meeting at Lakeshore Hotel, Gulshan, Dhaka on Recently (Sunday).The meeting was presided over by Honorable Justice Mr. Shah Abu Naeem Mominur Rahman, Head of the Commission and former Associate Justice, Appellate Division, Supreme Court of Bangladesh.Mr. Justice Md. Emdadul Haque, Commission Member, Former Justice,High Court Division, Bangladesh Supreme Court gave a welcome speech at the meeting.Commission members Mr. Tanim Hussain Shawon, Advocate, Bangladesh Supreme Court, Kazi Mahfuzul Haque Supan, Faculty of Law, Dhaka University and Commission member Mr. Syed Aminul Islam, former Registrar General and former District and Sessions Judge acted as moderators.In the meeting, views w...

Nov292024 by No Comments

19 Lakh BDT Fines Imposed, 40,000 kg Polythene Seized in Anti-Polythene Campaign

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The government remains steadfast in its efforts to enforce the ban on polythene shopping bags. All citizens must adhere to the government's directives to stop using such bags, failing which strict actions will be taken.Tapan Kumar Biswas, Additional Secretary and Chair of the Monitoring Committee on this issue under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, stated this during a monitoring operation at New Market Kitchen Market in Dhaka today.He informed reporters that 166 raids have been conducted since November 3 to implement the ban. A total of 349 establishments were fined 19,29,900 BDT, and 40,000 kg of polythene was confiscated during this period."Public awareness is growing, and we are witnessing gradual improvements," he remarked, adding that efforts to eli...

Nov282024 by No Comments

Integrated planning is essential for eco-friendly tourism development and coastal area protection: Syeda Rizwana Hasan

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Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources, emphasized the need for implementing integrated planning to ensure eco-friendly tourism development and coastal area protection.She made these remarks today at a seminar titled "Formulating an Integrated Plan for Eco-tourism in Payra Port City and Kuakata Coastal Region," held at the conference hall of the Public Works Department in Segunbagicha.The Advisor stressed the importance of zoning in coastal areas and introducing Coastal Zone Management Rules and Special Management Plans. She also highlighted the need to update the Coastal Zone Policy. Additionally, work is ongoing to draft laws on land zoning and agricultural land protection.She further mentione...

Nov272024 by No Comments

JICA signs loan agreements for Jamuna Railway Bridge Construction Project and Chattogram Sewerage System Development Project

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Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has signed two loan agreements with the Government of Bangladesh. Under these agreements, JICA will provide Japanese ODA (Official Development Assistance) loans of up to a total of 39,902 million yen (equivalent to 3,147 crore taka) for the Jamuna Railway Bridge Construction (III) and Chattogram Sewerage System Development Project (Engineering Service). The signing ceremony took place on November 25, 2024, at NEC-2 Conference Room, Economic Relations Division, Sher-E-Bangla Nagar, Agargaon, Dhaka. Mr. Ichiguchi Tomohide, Chief Representative, JICA Bangladesh Office, signed the loan agreement with Mr. Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary, Economic Relations Division. H.E Mr. Iwama Kiminori, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh also attended the s...