The government has formulated a Strategic Environmental Management Plan (SEMP) to ensure the conservation of the Sundarbans and South-West region of the country.
As per the plan, development activities will be carried out by ensuring the conservation of the Sundarbans through awareness and coordination among the ministries and departments concerned.
Environment Minister Md Shahab Uddin said the SEMP and the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) report will also provide clear guidelines for the conservation of the Sundarbans and the region during implementing policies, plans and activities related to the country's development process.
The minister made the remark as the chief guest at a meeting with national level stakeholders on the draft Strategic Environmental Assessment Report and Strategic Environmental Management Plan prepared for the South-West and Sundarbans of Bangladesh at Bangabandhu International Conference Center on Thursday.
The environment minister said the implementation of the development plan in the south-west would be further accelerated after the launch of the Padma Bridge.
A part of the Sundarbans is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the entire Sundarbans is a RAMSAR site.
Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and climate change Md Mostafa Kamal presided over the meeting.
Deputy Minister Begum Habibun Nahar, Additional Secretary (Development) Ahmed Shamim Al Razi, Chief Conservator of Forests Md. Amir Hosain Chowdhury addressed the meeting as special guests.
