Diplomatic Desk:
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo has said that UNESCO’s technical assistance, knowledge exchange and investment cooperation are very important to make Bangladesh’s forest conservation, environmental protection and climate change adaptation activities more effective and dynamic.
The minister expressed this opinion during a meeting with UNESCO Representative to Bangladesh Dr. Susan Vise at the Minister’s Office at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Tuesday (April 21, 2026).
The minister emphasized on modernizing waste management, controlling water and air pollution, implementing the government’s 250 million tree plantation program in five years, strengthening Sundarbans conservation activities and increasing the capacity to deal with salinity in coastal areas, expanding training and investment. State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam was present at the time.
UNESCO Representative Dr. Susan Wise expressed her interest in further strengthening and expanding cooperation in the areas of climate resilience, green campus initiatives, biodiversity conservation and environmental education. She also discussed areas of future cooperation under the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) and Climate Smart Education Systems Initiative (CSESI).
She also pledged to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in addressing environment and climate change, expand joint initiatives and work closely to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
The meeting was attended by Md. Raihan Kawsar, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and senior officials of UNESCO Bangladesh.
