Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia are poised to strengthen their collaboration in protecting the environment, wildlife conservation, and combating climate change as they prepare to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU). This significant decision was reached during a bilateral meeting between Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Bangladesh’s Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister, and Dr Osama Ibrahim Faqeeha, Saudi Arabia’s State Minister for Environment, held on the sidelines of the UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya.
Acknowledging their shared commitment to environmental protection, both nations have agreed to formalize their cooperation through the signing of the MoU. The agreement is designed to reinforce collaboration in critical areas such as environmental protection, wildlife conservation, climate change mitigation, and pollution control, according to official sources.
During the meeting, State Minister Faqeeha extended a formal invitation to Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury to participate in the United Nations Convention on Desertification (UNCCD) scheduled for December 2024. This invitation reflects the deepening collaboration between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia on global environmental challenges.
The discussions covered a wide range of issues, including knowledge exchange programs, agricultural sustainability, mangrove conservation, waste management, the development of smart cities, and strategies to address land degradation. Both parties emphasized the importance of their joint determination to explore innovative solutions for pressing environmental concerns.
Minister Saber Hossain expressed Bangladesh’s unwavering dedication to advancing environmental sustainability both at the local and international levels. Additionally, he addressed a high-level segment titled “Strengthening Science Policy Interface for Effective Implementation of Environmental Commitments,” shedding light on initiatives such as the Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan, Delta Plan, and the National Adaptation Plan, demonstrating Bangladesh’s proactive approach in dealing with climate change.
