Chief Justice of National High Court of Brazil (STJ) Antonio Herman Benjamin met with Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources, at the Forest Department in Agargaon on Monday. The meeting was also attended by the Brazilian Ambassador to Bangladesh, Paulo Fernando Dias Feres.
During the discussion, both sides emphasized the importance of strengthening environmental governance and judicial cooperation to address climate change, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable forest management. Justice Benjamin, a globally recognized expert in environmental law, highlighted Brazil’s experience in legal frameworks for forest protection and climate justice. In response, Advisor Rizwana Hasan shared Bangladesh’s initiatives in safeguarding natural resources, tackling plastic pollution, and conserving biodiversity in ecologically sensitive areas such as the Sundarbans and Jaflong.
The meeting 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 discussion 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 also proposed to organise a Judges’ Conference on environmental and forest protection. 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.
