Staff Correspondent

Chief Justice of National High Court of Brazil (STJ) Antonio Herman Benjamin met with Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan at the Forest Department in Agargaon here on Monday.

Brazilian Ambassador to Bangladesh Paulo Fernando Dias Feres was present, a ministry press release said.

During the meeting, they emphasised the need for strengthening environmental governance and judicial cooperation to address climate change, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable forest management.

Justice Benjamin, a globally recognised expert in environmental law, highlighted Brazil's experience in legal frameworks for forest protection and climate justice.

In response, Adviser Rizwana shared Bangladesh's initiatives in safeguarding natural resources, tackling plastic pollution, and conserving biodiversity in ecologically sensitive areas such as the Sundarbans and Jaflong.

They underscored the shared commitment of Bangladesh and Brazil to international environmental agreements.

Both parties agreed on the necessity of judicial activism in enforcing environmental laws and ensuring sustainable development.

The meeting also touched upon the role of youth and communities in climate resilience, aligning with Bangladesh's efforts to engage local stakeholders in conservation strategies.

The Brazilian Chief Justice praised Bangladesh's proactive stance on environmental issues and expressed interest in further exchanges between the two countries on legal and policy frameworks for environmental protection.

He proposed organising a Judges' Conference on environmental and forest protection.

The Environment Adviser also expressed willingness to organise such an important conference.

Ambassador Paulo Fernando Dias Feres reiterated Brazil's willingness to collaborate with Bangladesh in areas of mutual concern, particularly in combating deforestation.