DHAKA, June 13, 2024 (BSS) - Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury today said the nature and environment must be protected to make the country’s growth trend sustainable.

“We should work sincerely to prevent biodiversity loss and pollution in the country,” he told a seminar in the capital.  

The World Bank arranged the seminar titled "Bangladesh Achieving Green Growth: From a Shared Vision to Action" at a city hotel.

Speaking as the chief guest, Saber Hossain said Bangladesh is a role model in various sectors before the world and it will be able to set an example in green growth too.  

“We can all succeed in implementing Green Bangladesh under the leadership of Honorable Prime Minister Hasina by working together,” he said.

The environment minister said various sectors should be made environment-friendly to implement green growth.

Mentioning that the country’s environment must be protected, he said, if the pollution remains high, there will be no growth.  

“Waste management system should be improved. We must go for nature-based solutions. Along with the government, the private sector should come forward to protect environment,” he asserted.

“In that case, the government will provide incentives to the private sector. Let us all realise the dream of building a green and sustainable Bangladesh,” Saber Hossain said.

In his speech, State Minister for Planning Md Shahiduzzaman Sarkar said Bangladesh will graduate from the least developed countries (LDCs) in 2026.

“To address climate change and for development of the country, the government is implementing the Perspective Plan, Delta Plan, Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan and National Adaptation Plan,” he said.

Lawmaker Nahim Razzaq, Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof AKM Maksud Kamal, World Bank Country Director for Bhutan and Bangladesh Abdoulaye Seck and Additional Secretary of the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry Dr Fahmida Khanam also spoke at the seminar, among others.

The guests unveiled the Green Growth publication.

Government officials, representatives from non-government organisations, researchers and environmentalists participated in the seminar.

The speakers discussed various aspects of achieving green growth in Bangladesh and exchanged views on the country's green growth plan and its implementation process.