Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)– The European Union will support the Forest Department with a €10 million (BDT 900million) grant program in its efforts to protect and manage the Sundarbans Reserve Forest (SRF).

A five-year agreement to this end was signed in Dhaka on Wednesday by the Bangladesh government and the EU Delegation, an announcement said.

The project will assist communities living in the areas adjacent to the Sundarbans to improve their livelihoods and help reducing their exposures to natural disasters.

The locations of the program will be the Sundarbans Reserved Forest and communities of Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira, Pirojpur and Barguna.

BBN/SI/AD-02Dec10-3:59 pm (BST)