Dr. Abdullah Zafer H. bin Abiyah, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Bangladesh met today with Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources, at her office in the Bangladesh Secretariat.
During the meeting, the Environment Advisor sought Saudi cooperation in addressing climate risks, promoting nationwide greening initiatives, and providing safe drinking water to local communities in saline-prone coastal regions through rainwater harvesting projects. She noted that “Bangladesh is among the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, and international cooperation is crucial to effectively address this challenge.”
Ambassador Dr. Abdullah Zafer H. bin Abiyah invited the Environment Advisor to participate in the upcoming 5th Session of the Islamic Conference and expressed optimism about strengthening bilateral cooperation in environmental conservation and climate resilience. He also discussed the potential for joint initiatives between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia in areas such as green technology, renewable energy, and water resource management.
Later in the day, Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan chaired a review meeting on the development and overall activities of the Bangladesh Rubber Board, held at the ministry conference room in the Secretariat. She emphasized the need for adopting environment-friendly methods for the sustainable development of the rubber industry and provided guidance on enhancing research, expanding export opportunities, and ensuring policy support.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Md. Khayrul Hasan, Additional Secretary (Administration); Shahanara Yasmin Lili, Joint Secretary (Law); and senior officials from the ministry and the Bangladesh Rubber Board.