DHAKA, Jan 24, 2024 (BSS) - Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury today said Bangladesh will sign a climate adaptation agreement with France.

"The agreement may cover issues such as protection of people from the adverse impacts of climate change, conservation of biodiversity and capacity building of institutions," he told reporters after a meeting with a French delegation.

The delegation, led by French Ambassador to Bangladesh Marie Masdupuy, met the environment minister at the Bangladesh Secretariat here.

Saber hoped that the draft agreement will be finalised within the next month. "Then I think our honorable Prime Minister and the President of France will sign it," he said.

During his last visit to Bangladesh, the French President had expressed his interest in signing a climate adaptation agreement between France and Bangladesh, the environment minister said.

Responding to a question, he said: "We want to issue an alert if air pollution goes to a bad level. To tell the public that the air quality we have today is a serious health hazard. So, if they do not have urgent work, they should not go out of the house."

Saber said illegal brick kilns around Dhaka are being demolished to check air pollution. "Tomorrow, we will announce a 100-day programme. There will be details on these matters."

French envoy Marie Masdupuy said France's partnership with Bangladesh is deep and strong, while the two countries will work together on climate change, environmental issues and implementation of national climate plan.

Guillaume Audren de Kerdrel, First Counselor and Deputy Head of Mission of the French Embassy in Dhaka; Julien Deur, Economical Adviser, French Embassy, Dhaka; Cecilia Cortese, Deputy to the AFD Country Director in Bangladesh, AFD; and David Thiery, Personal Secretary to the French Ambassador, Dhaka; were present, among others.