The 17th general meeting of Bangladesh National Authority for Chemical Weapons Convention (BNACWC) was held on Monday 2021 via online platform.
Chairman of the BNACWC Lieutenant General Waker-Uz-Zaman, who is also the Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division (AFD) chaired the meeting, said ISPR.
Total 42 members from different ministries and organizations participated in the meeting. Members of BNACWC reviewed the present activities of BNACWC and discussed about the future road map to implement Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in Bangladesh.
Ever-increasing manufacturing sector led to a significant rise in the chemical demand in Bangladesh, thereby posing increasing risk of chemical incidents and accidents. As such, the chairman underscored the importance of capacity building of related responders.
Moreover, the house discussed for the requirement of an effective integrated national policy and framework for ensuring chemical safety and security management in Bangladesh.
The forum discussed about amending the existing legislations of the country related to management of schedule chemicals for effective implementation of CWC.
House also discussed about the inclusion of ‘Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Act, 2006’ under ‘Mobile Court Act, 2009’ for effective implementation of national legislations related to CWC.
To ensure better management of chemicals in the ports, the house opined for designating few specific ports for import and export of schedule chemicals.
Lt Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman expressed his mind to continue the capacity building and other programmes via online platform during Covid situation. The meeting ended with a positive understanding for working together to ensure chemical safety in Bangladesh.