The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh will receive US$ 3.33 million as grant to implement three environment-related projects in the country.

ERD additional secretary Md. Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan and UNDP country director Stefan Priesner signed three separate agreements on behalf of their respective sides at the ERD office yesterday. Senior officials concerned were present.

The projects, to be coordinated by UNDP, are preparation of second national communication (SNC) of Bangladesh, phase-out of CFC consumption in the manufacture of Aerosol Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI) in Bangladesh and institutional strengthening for the phase-out of Ozone Depleting Substances (Phase-IV).

Officials said the fund for the projects would be provided by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Multilateral Fund under Montreal Protocol.

Of the projects, one relates to preparation of and submitting the SNC to the conference of the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The second project aims at phasing out the use of chloro-fluoro carbon (CFC) in three pharmaceutical factories by converting the production technology to use non-CFC.

The other project will enable the National Ozone Unit of the Department of Environment to continue to plan, organise, direct and coordinate all activities required for the implementation of the country's strategy in all areas related to the phase-out of Ozone Depleting Substances.