Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ziaul Hasan NDC said environmental laws and regulations will be updated to make the country’s environmental protection activities more effective.  New laws will also be formulated according to the demand of the day.

He said awareness activities will also be taken to make the people aware of the relevant rules and regulations.  But action will be taken against those who knowingly disobey the rules and damage the environment.

Environment Secretary Ziaul Hasan made the remarks while addressing a meeting on ‘Member State Need Assessment Survey’ under the ‘Montevideo Environmental Law Program’ at the conference room of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change on Thursday (January 28th).

Dr Ashfaqul Islam Babul, Joint Secretary (Administration) of the Ministry of Focal Point of Bangladesh of the Montevideo Environmental Law Program said the program was adopted at the 4th session of the UN Environment Assembly to be implemented from 2020 to 2029 to assist in the development and implementation of global environmental law. Through this program, the United Nations Environment will help develop, implement and strengthen the capacity of the government of Bangladesh.  In this case, necessary cooperation will be provided through consultations, technical assistance and increase public participation.  As a member state, it has been requested to prioritize the 9 strategic activities of the program.  In this regard, the views of various governmental and non-governmental organizations working on environmental law in the country will be sent to the United Nations Environment Program.  The approved activities will be implemented later.

Additional Secretary (Administration) Mahmud Hasan, Additional Secretary (Environmental Pollution Control) Md. Moniruzzaman, Additional Secretary (Climate Change) Mizanul Hoque Chowdhury, Director of Environment Department (Natural Resources Management) Dr Fahmida Khanam, Joint Secretary (Administration) and National Focal Point Dr Md. Ashfaqul Islam Babool, Country Representative of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)  Rakibul Amin, Prakriti O Jibon Foundation Chairman Mukit Majumder Babu, Program Specialist of United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Arif Faisal and Legal  Adviser of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyer’s Association Sayed Ahmed Kabir and senior officials of the ministry were present at the meeting.