Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has emphasised the need for greater financial and institutional support to combat climate change and mitigate its impacts.
She stressed that external funding should be sought with integrity, ensuring the empowerment of the ministry while avoiding duplication of efforts.
She also called for concessional loans to ensure the sustainability of climate change initiatives and the government’s commitment to them.
She made these remarks while addressing the dialogue titled “Inception Workshop with Development Partners on Operationalising the Bangladesh Climate Development Partnership (BCDP),” hosted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MOEFCC) at the Bangladesh Water Development Board (Pani Bhaban) on Sunday.
Terming the BCDP a vital platform for mobilising resources, fostering collaboration, and building a resilient and sustainable future, she noted that the government has established mechanisms to efficiently channel funds and prioritize their use effectively.
Supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the BCDP aims to tackle climate challenges through low-carbon, climate-resilient development strategies.
The adviser called for stronger collaboration with civil society, emphasizing the need for greater youth and civil society representation in climate initiatives.
She described the BCDP as a multi-stakeholder approach that brings together the government, private sector, and development partners to scale up and implement climate adaptation and mitigation strategies.
“Through BCDP, we aim to ensure that every taka invested in climate action creates meaningful, sustainable impacts for our people and ecosystems,” she added.
Rizwana also advocated for integrating environmental protection and sustainable development into national policy, urging the avoidance of environmentally harmful projects, such as hill cutting for road construction.
“We can set an example for the world on how to channel climate funds with urgency, transparency, and inclusivity,” she stated.
The workshop, chaired and moderated by Secretary of MOEFCC Dr. Farhina Ahmed, featured a panel discussion with key officials, including Planning Secretary Iqbal Abdullah Harun, Additional Secretary of the Economic Relations Division Dr. A. K. M. Shahabuddin,; and ADB Country Operations Head at the Bangladesh Resident Mission Na Won Kim, among others. Additional Secretary of MOEFCC Dr. Fahmida Khanom, provided an in-depth overview of the BCDP.
The workshop concluded with the official launch of the BCDP Web Portal and Secretariat by the Chief Guest. Representatives from government ministries, development partners, the private sector, NGOs, and climate experts attended the event, aligning priorities and defining actionable steps for operationalizing the BCDP.
Later, Director General of the South Asia Regional Department at ADB Takeo Konishi, met with the Environment and Water Resources Adviser and expressed ADB’s commitment to mobilizing concessional and green financing to accelerate Bangladesh’s climate resilience and sustainable development.
