These issues were discussed on Monday at a courtesy meeting between Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo and Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi at the Bangladesh Secretariat. State Minister for Environment Sheikh Faridul Islam was present at the time.

At the meeting, consent was given to hold the next meeting of the joint working group of the two countries on preserving the biodiversity of the Sundarbans and a bilateral meeting on Royal Bengal Tiger conservation in Bangladesh. It was decided to hold the next meeting on transboundary Asian elephant conservation in India.

In addition, representatives of the two countries exchanged views on climate change, transboundary air pollution and river pollution, carbon credits, reducing carbon emissions, and developing the green economy.

Environment Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo said that since Bangladesh and India are close neighbors, the environmental interests of the two countries are intertwined. He said mutual trust, information exchange, and regional cooperation need to be further strengthened in tackling climate change, floods, droughts, river and water resource management, air pollution, and protecting biodiversity.

State Minister Sheikh Faridul Islam said the Sundarbans is a shared natural resource of both countries and plays an important role in tackling climate change and natural disasters. He emphasized increasing the exchange of research, technology, and management experience in preserving the Sundarbans and other shared ecological regions and biodiversity.

Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi said there is ample opportunity for Bangladesh and India to work jointly on environmental protection, climate resilience, and sustainable development. He expressed commitment to further expanding mutual cooperation for the welfare of the people of both countries.