Bangladesh, one of the most affected countries by climate change, requires genuine support instead of debt burdens, said Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser on Environment, Forests, and Climate Change.
She emphasized the need for clear definitions of climate finance to prevent Bangladesh from being overburdened by loans.
She made these remarks on Sunday during a meeting with a high-level Swedish delegation led by Dr. Jakob Granit, Director-General of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
Swedish Ambassador to Bangladesh, Nicolas Linus Ragnar Weeks, was also present.
The discussions focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation in sustainable development, climate finance, renewable energy, and water resource management.
Dr. Granit reaffirmed Sweden’s commitment to supporting Bangladesh’s transition to a greener economy, highlighting the importance of innovation and investment in sustainable sectors, including the ready-made garment (RMG) industry.
“We share an interest in accelerating Bangladesh’s sustainability agenda,” Dr. Granit noted.
Sweden is eager to collaborate with Bangladesh and European partners to promote job creation, trade, and climate-resilient investments. He also stressed the urgent need for climate finance and addressed challenges such as water resource depletion, pollution, and rising sea levels.
The meeting also explored the RMG sector’s potential for sustainable growth, emphasizing the shared responsibility between buyers and producers to uphold fair labor practices and environmental sustainability. Additionally, discussions included cooperation on plastic waste management, water resource mapping, and biodiversity conservation.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration and developing innovative financing mechanisms to support Bangladesh’s development goals.
Additional Secretary (Development) Md. Khayrul Hasan, Joint Secretary (Planning) Lubna Yasmine, Head of Department Asia, MENA, and Latin America (LAMENA) Anders Frankenberg, Senior Program Manager, Specialist, Energy and Infrastructure, SORA, Sida Samer Al Fayadh, Deputy Head and Lead Transaction Manager, Guarantee Origination Unit, Sida Maria Stridsman, Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden in Bangladesh Peter Hallbom, and First Secretary and Deputy Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden in Bangladesh Nayoka Martinez-Bäckström also attended the meeting.
The meeting concluded on a positive note, with optimism for impactful partnerships in the years ahead.
Later, a Japanese delegation led by MATSUDA Emiko, Deputy Director of the Climate Change Science and Adaptation Office at Japan’s Ministry of the Environment, met with the Environment Advisor at her office to discuss areas of collaboration.
