Dhaka, May 12, 2026 - Abdul Awal Mintoo, Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, held a meeting with British Deputy High Commissioner James Goldman at the ministry office in Dhaka on Tuesday.
State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam was also present during the meeting.
The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom in areas including environmental protection, sustainable development, pollution control, renewable energy expansion, carbon credits, climate finance, biodiversity conservation, and protection of the Sundarbans.
Welcoming the British diplomat, Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo said Bangladesh highly values its long-standing bilateral relationship with the United Kingdom. He noted that pollution control is one of the government’s top priorities and said authorities are implementing various initiatives to reduce air, water, and waste pollution.
The minister also highlighted the government’s efforts to accelerate a waste-to-energy project in Savar and sought UK cooperation in helping Bangladesh secure carbon credits through international carbon markets. He said the funds generated from carbon trading would be used to address the impacts of climate change.
He further said the government is giving special importance to implementing its pledge to plant 250 million trees over the next five years, strengthening conservation efforts in the Sundarbans, and expanding investment, training, and capacity-building initiatives to combat salinity in coastal areas.
British Deputy High Commissioner James Goldman expressed interest in expanding ongoing cooperation with Bangladesh in the environment, forestry, and climate sectors. He emphasized the need for stronger joint initiatives on issues of mutual interest.
Senior officials from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the British High Commission in Dhaka also attended the meeting.
