Bangladesh working successfully to protect ozone layer: Shahab

Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Md Shahab Uddin on Saturday said Bangladesh is working successfully to implement the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol adopted to protect the ozone layer.

Bangladesh has passed all the stages of implementation of the Montreal Protocol in a timely manner and is complying with the obligations of the Protocol. In recognition of this, Bangladesh has been praised and awarded by the United Nations Environment Program in 2012 and 2017. In addition, the Department of the Environment was awarded in 2019 by the World Customs Organization, the United Nations Environment Program and the Ozone Secretariat in recognition of their significant contributions to the control of illegal entry and import of ozone depleting substances, he said.

He was speaking as the chief guest at a function organized in the Walton Hi-Tech Industries Limited corporate office at Bashundhara on the occasion of World Ozone Day 2021 under the theme Protect the Ozone Layer, Build a Safe Food and a Cool World of Antidotes in compliance with the Montreal Protocol, a press release said here.

The Environment Minister said that at present, by providing financial and technical assistance to 5 air conditioner manufacturing companies and one chiller manufacturing company in implementing the Montreal Protocol, environmentally friendly and energy efficient AC can be produced in Bangladesh.

As a result of adopting various policies of the government, it will be possible to reduce the use of HCFC by 67.5 percent in 2025, he said, adding that with the implementation of HPMP Stage-2, it will be possible to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to about 1.7 million tons of carbon-di-oxide.

About 10,000 technicians employed in the refrigeration sector have been trained, he added.

In addition, necessary training and awareness activities have been conducted for the customs officers to prevent ODS smuggling and ODS identifiers have been provided, he said.

We urge all government and non-government organizations, including Walton Hi-Tech Industries Limited, to abide by every obligation of the Montreal Protocol, he continued.

Deputy Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Habibun Nahar was present as the special guest on the occasion. Md Ashraf Uddin, Director General of the Department of Environment, presided over the function.