PM signs 'High Sea' treaty to protect world's oceans

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has signed the Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) to protect the world's oceans and reverse the damage done to fragile marine environment by overfishing and other human activities.

The agreement was signed yesterday under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea at the Treaty Event area on the ground floor of the General Assembly building, said Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen while briefing newsmen about the PM's engagements on the sidelines of the 78th UNGA session.

The treaty gave consent to management and preservation of the genetic resources, describing those as the common heritage.

The foreign minister said he held several bilateral meetings with Foreign Minister of Singapore Vivian Balakrishnan and Netherlands Foreign Trade Affairs and Development Cooperation Minister Liesje Schreinemacher alongside attending several high level events that included the Breakfast Summit on Climate Mobility and the 18th Asia Cooperation Dialogue.

Joining the climate summit, Momen said, "Bangladesh has become a role model for the rest of the countries to face the impact of climate change."

He said the rich countries are mainly responsible for carbon emissions while the contribution of the developing countries is only 0.47 percent.

The foreign minister called upon the rich countries to fulfil their pledges to give $100 billion every year to the climate fund.

"But unfortunately the rich countries don't comply with their promises. They should keep their promises," he said.

The foreign minister said Bangladesh has got a nominal amount of the money from the climate fund to overcome the loss and damages caused by climate change.

He said, "Political commitment is a must to comply with the promises made by the rich countries."

Thematic Ambassador for Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) Saima Wazed was present, among others.