Bangladesh has signed the historic Paris Climate Agreement, aiming to take various measures to save the world from the disastrous consequences of climate change.

Some 175 countries, including China and the USA, signed the deal at the UN headquarters in New York on Friday. Environment and Forests Minister Anwar Hossain Manju signed the agreement on behalf of Bangladesh.

The signing day coincided with the International Mother Earth Day. The signing ceremony turned out to be an event closely resembling the annual UN General Assembly sessions, featuring around 60 heads of state and government, according to a message received in Dhaka.

The opening session was addressed, among others, by the presidents of France, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Democratic Republic of Congo; the prime ministers of Canada, Italy and Tuvalu; the deputy prime minister of the Russia, special envoy of the president of China, the US secretary of state and the UN secretary general.

The Bangladesh statement at the event highlighted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's personal commitment to combating climate change. It reaffirmed her government's readiness to continue to work towards mobilising greater international efforts in support of comprehensive implementation of the Paris deal.

“Collective wisdom and commitments are essential to implement the Paris Climate Agreement... We all must consider the urgency of acting now,” the statement reads.

Bangladesh also flagged various initiatives taken by the government to adapt to climate change in a pro-active manner with its own resources and international cooperation. It was particularly mentioned that a roadmap for implementing Bangladesh's Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) was currently in the making.

“All countries need to be united in our collective journey, keeping in mind that one's non-compliance may threaten the existence of all. However, developed countries have to take lead in this case,” said the statement.

Following the signing of the deal, Manju exchanged greetings with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres of UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The Bangladeshi minister also had a bilateral meeting with Fatma Guldemet Sari, minister for environment and urbanisation of Turkey. The two ministers agreed to work together during the lead-up to UNFCCC COP22 in Morocco in November this year to promote the issues of common interests, with focus on climate-vulnerable LDCs.