Dhaka February 18 2025 :
๐ ๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐’๐ฌ c๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ก.
Lead pollution, often overlooked, affects 60% of children in Bangladesh, posing significant health risks.
This new initiative aims to support the Ministry of Environment in eliminating the sources of pollution and mitigating its harmful impacts.
These views were drawn from a launching event titled โ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐น๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐ ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐โ project on Monday at a city hotel where the Adviser for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, the French Ambassador to Bangladesh, Marie Masdupuy took part.
The event was organized by Pure Earth, with support from the French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM).
Through the FFEM Project, France reaffirms its commitment to supporting Bangladesh in its fight against pollution, strengthening environmental governance, and advancing a just transition toward sustainable economic growth.
In her speech, Ambassador Masdupuy emphasized that the project reflects the strong and enduring partnership between France and Bangladeshโone rooted in shared values, mutual respect, and a common vision for a sustainable future.
“Environmental resilience is at the heart of Franceโs global development efforts. France has long been a committed partner in Bangladeshโs environmental sustainability journey,” said the Ambassador. “This collaboration extends beyond this project, encompassing climate change adaptation, renewable energy, and sustainable urban development.”
โAs a nation that strongly advocates for green growth and circular economy principles, we believe that through innovation, strong governance, and global partnerships, we can effectively combat pollution and build resilient communities,โ she added.
Under the FFEM and through its broader commitments under the Paris Agreement, France continues to support countries, including Bangladesh, in tackling urgent environmental challenges.
โThe FFEM Project in Bangladesh is a crucial step in tackling one of the most significant yet often overlooked public health and environmental crises – lead contamination,โ the Ambassador stated.
Global studies have shown that lead poisoning causes lifelong developmental and neurological damage, particularly to children, and negatively impacts a countryโs workforce and economic potential.
In Bangladesh, the cost of inaction is estimated at $28 billion annually. Lead pollution leads to a loss of 20 million IQ points, the premature deaths of 140,000 adults due to cardiac diseases, pregnancy complications, and significant economic losses amounting to approximately 6-9% of the countryโs GDP, equivalent to $28.6 billion.
โThe urgency to act is clear. Through this project, we aim to implement sustainable and evidence-based solutions to address this challenge,โ the Ambassador said.
Source : France Embassy’s social handel
