Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shahab Uddin on Monday said the government is committed to protecting the ozone layer to save the planet from the impacts of harmful ultraviolet rays.
"All the programmes and projects, adopted under the Montreal Protocol for ozone layer protection, are being approved and implemented on time by the government with special importance," he told in a discussion organised by the Department of Environment (DoE) at its office in Dhaka on the occasion of World Ozone Day 2022.
Speaking as the chief guest, Shahab Uddin said a national cooling plan is being formulated with guidelines to curb the use of HCFCs in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh will start working on the implementation plan of the Kigali Amendment very soon, he added.
"We are implementing HCFC Phase Out Management Plan II in Elaksha," he said.
By implementing this, he said, Bangladesh will be able to cut HCFC consumption by 67.50 per cent by 2025.
"As a result, Bangladesh will enter a new era in the field of air cooler production. The door of export of manufactured products will be opened abroad," Shahab Uddin said.
He said keeping this in mind the government is providing special facilities for the manufacturers of refrigerators and air-conditioning products in payment of tax and VAT.
Special attention should be given to the converted ACs so that those become energy efficient, the minister said, adding that it will meet the domestic demand as well as increase the export opportunities.
Chaired by DoE Director General Dr Abdul Hamid, the meeting was addressed, among others, by Deputy Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Habibun Nahar, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed, Additional Secretary Moniruzzaman, Resident Representative of UNDP Stefan Liller and Project Director of ODS Project Ziaul Haque.
Representatives of government agencies and private organisations were also present.
The minister distributed prizes among the winners of the Asia Pacific Regional Ozone2Climate Art Contest at the event.
