The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide USD$1:00 billion concessional financing to Bangladesh per year over the next five years, Hoe Yun Jeong, ADB’s Country Director, said on Sunday.
He said this in a meeting with Environment, Forest and Climate Change Syeda Rizwana Hasan, at the Forest Department in Dhaka.
He assured enhanced financial support, including grants, to advance Bangladesh’s environmental goals. He expressed strong interest in river cleaning projects.
Additionally, he highlighted ADB’s commitment to increasing community engagement and public consultations during project implementation.
Their discussions focused on ADB’s commitment to supporting Bangladesh’s climate resilience and environmental sustainability.
During the meeting, Syeda Rizwana Hasan emphasised ADB’s increased focus on climate-focused and socially inclusive activities over traditional infrastructure projects.
Highlighting her government’s ambitious plans to restore eight major rivers across the country’s eight divisions, she urged ADB to prioritise river cleaning initiatives around Dhaka.
The advisor also stressed the need for tangible actions on the ground instead of merely formulating action plans.
She called for concessional loans and sought ADB’s support in addressing key environmental challenges, including solid waste management, sewage treatment, salinity intrusion, waterlogging, and human-elephant conflicts.
Senior officials, including the environment secretary, joint secretary, chief conservator of forests, and representatives from ADB, were present at the meeting.
