DHAKA, June 29, 2022 (BSS) - Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin today said strict instructions have been given to the officials and employees of the ministry to make the development of the country's environment visible as part of the implementation of the national commitment.

He said the progress of noise pollution control should be made visible to the people within the next one month.

"Therefore, all necessary initiatives have to be implemented by taking effective measures to stop the banned hydraulic horn. We have to work sincerely to control all types of environmental pollution including air pollution and water pollution," he said.

The environment minister was speaking at the signing ceremony of the Annual Performance Agreement (APA) for the financial year 2022-2023 with the ministry and seven departments under it at the ministry's conference room here.

Chaired by Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed, the meeting was attended, among others, by Deputy Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Habibun Nahar and Additional Secretary (Administration) Iqbal Abdullah Harun.

Speaking as the chief guest, Shahab Uddin said necessary steps need to be taken to recover occupied forest land and increase the amount of green coverage in the country to 24 percent.

He said the annual performance agreement is a structured work plan.

"Government employees have to work outside this structure out of their own responsibilities. We have to be sincere in fulfilling the goal of making Bangladesh a developed country by 2041," the environment minister added.