Bangladesh must significantly improve project readiness and mobilise private investment to unlock large-scale climate finance and achieve its trillion-dollar, climate-resilient economy goal, speakers said at a high-level policy dialogue in Dhaka on Thursday.
The Economic Relations Division (ERD) organised the dialogue bringing together policymakers, development partners and private sector leaders to focus on turning climate priorities into bankable, investment-ready projects.
Participants stressed that despite growing climate risks, Bangladesh still lags in preparing strong proposals for global climate funds, underscoring the need for better institutional capacity and coordination.
ERD Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky said the country is already incurring heavy losses from climate change and must sharpen its focus on climate financing.
He emphasised building a robust framework to crowd in private capital, acknowledging gaps in readiness to access international climate funds.
ADB Country Director Qingfeng Zhang highlighted the importance of designing investment-ready projects, saying scaling up climate finance would depend on developing bankable proposals.
The dialogue, organised under the Bangladesh Climate Development Partnership, is part of ERD’s ongoing effort to strengthen capacity for accessing funds such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
Speakers at two panel sessions identified weak climate literacy, fragmented institutional efforts and limited translation of climate science into financial models as key barriers.
They called for breaking institutional silos and developing evidence-based project designs that align scientific priorities with financing requirements.
Discussions also focused on introducing a national green taxonomy, leveraging blended finance, and reframing climate initiatives as viable investment opportunities rather than purely development spending.
Prime Minister’s Adviser Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, addressing the closing session, called for aligning Bangladesh’s development pathway with global frameworks including the Paris Agreement and biodiversity goals.
He stressed the urgency of mobilising private capital and urged global climate funds to respond faster and more flexibly to Bangladesh’s financing needs.
As part of a capacity-building programme, 42 participants were selected to advance to a final-stage incubation lab in Gazipur, where they will prepare submission-ready concept notes for the Green Climate Fund.
Officials said the initiative aims to strengthen Bangladesh’s ability to convert climate strategies into fundable projects and secure greater access to international climate finance.