The government has constituted a 26-member executive committee of National Environment and Climate Change Committee to bolster the implementation of environmental policies and enhance inter-ministerial coordination.
According to a notification issued by Cabinet Division, the Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change will serve as the chairperson of the newly formed committee.
Committee composition
The high-powered committee includes minister for Agriculture, minister for Water Resources, minister for Disaster Management and Relief, minister for Shipping, and minister of state for Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Other members of the committee are executive chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA); secretary of Ministry of Land; secretary of Energy and Mineral Resources Division; secretary of Ministry of Housing and Public Works; and member of General Economics Division (GED) of Bangladesh Planning Commission.
The membership further extends to secretaries of the Ministry of Industries, the Road Transport and Highways Division, the Local Government Division, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Power Division, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, and the Ministry of Commerce.
Technical and organisational representation includes the director general of Department of Environment, the chief conservator of Forests, the managing director of Bangladesh Climate Change Trust, and the executive director of Centre for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS).
The president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and two civil society representatives, who are experts in environment and climate change matters nominated by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, are also part of the body.
The additional secretary (environment) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will act as the member-secretary of the committee.
Terms of reference
The executive committee is tasked with reviewing and monitoring the implementation measures of the National Environment Policy by various ministries and divisions.
Its mandate includes analysing the progress of the policy and providing necessary recommendations for amendments in response to changing contexts.
The committee will take primary steps to resolve various inter-ministerial issues related to the environment and climate change, presenting them to the National Environment and Climate Change Committee if required.
The body will also monitor the progress of decisions made by the national-level committee and consider other significant matters pertaining to environment and climate change.
