Staff Correspondent:

The United Kingdom (UK) is interested to forge new partnership to bolster Bangladesh’s capacity to mitigate and cope with climate change impacts.

The interest came as a high-level British delegation, led by British High Commissioner in Dhaka Sarah Cook met Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan at Bangladesh Secretariat aiming to strengthen bilateral cooperation in environmental conservation and climate resilience.

During the meeting, they underscored the shared commitment of both nations to tackling pressing environmental challenges, including climate change adaptation, groundwater depletion, pollution control and river ecosystem restoration.

Rizwana emphasized the critical role of local communities in fostering sustainable solutions, particularly in mangrove restoration and addressing the increasing salinity in coastal region.

The environment adviser highlighted the need for innovative strategies to curb illegal fishing and protect the livelihoods of traditional fishermen in the Sundarbans.

Sarah Cook reaffirmed the UK’s unwavering support for Bangladesh’s climate resilience efforts, citing key British initiatives in locally-led adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and climate finance.

The discussion also touched on the UK’s recent adjustments to its Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget, with Cook assuring that the UK remains committed to restoring the target when fiscal conditions allow.

Despite these adjustments, she reiterated Britain’s determination to play a leading role in global climate action and to stand by Bangladesh in achieving its environmental goals.

During the meeting, the British High Commissioner extended a formal invitation to Rizwana Hasan to attend two prestigious events in London: a ministerial roundtable on “Tackling Water Security across the Climate-Nature-Development Nexus,” hosted by UK Minister for International Development, the Rt Hon Annaliese Dodds, MP, and the Water and Climate Reception at Buckingham Palace, hosted by His Majesty The King, on March 13 next.

Both the sides pledged to continue close collaboration on shared priorities, including climate finance, sustainable resource management, and international environmental forums.

The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to deepening the UK-Bangladesh partnership in climate action, ensuring a sustainable and resilient future for both the nations.

Later, a Chinese delegation, led by Cheng Tingyu of China Heavy Machinery Company, called on Syeda Rizwana Hasan at the Bangladesh Secretariat.

The delegation expressed interest in supporting Bangladesh’s environmental initiatives, offering assistance in introducing high-yield rubber varieties to enhance sustainability and economic growth.