The Unesco World Heritage Committee has supported Bangladesh's continued effort to protect resources of the Sundarbans through planned afforestation, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin said today.

The 45th extended meeting of the highest policy-making council of Unesco's World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, praised initiatives taken by the Government of Bangladesh over last decade to protect the Sundarbans, he said.

The minister came up with the information at a press conference at his ministry at the Secretariat this morning.

"The present government is implementing various initiatives for the protection and development of the Sundarbans. The government has had significant success in this regard. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the government is working relentlessly to protect the Sundarbans," he said.

The government's use of ultra-super critical thermal technology at Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant to avoid harmful effects on the environment of Sundarbans has been appreciated at the meeting, he said.

The decision to cancel six coal-fired power plants as part of the Nationally Determined Contribution has been lauded, the minister also said.

The government has banned the felling, purchase, sale, use and transportation of trees till 2030 to preserve the Sundarbans and its biodiversity, he said, adding that collection of all types of resources from the protected area of 53.52 percent of the total area of the Sundarbans has been prohibited.

Since 2021, incidents of deer hunting in the Sundarbans has come down significantly, the minister also said.