Environment, forest and climate change adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today spoke at a workshop at Pani Bhaban, Dhaka. Photo: PID

DHAKA, Jan 26, 2025(BSS) - Environment, forest and climate change adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today launched Bangladesh Climate Development Partnership (BCDP) to enhance the financial and institutional support of her ministry. 

“We have launched the Bangladesh Climate Development Partnership (BCDP) to foster collaboration and mobilize climate funds of the ministry,” she said while speaking at a workshop at Pani Bhaban here. 

The ministry of environment, forest and climate change organized the workshop.

The advisor described the BCDP as a vital platform for mobilizing the resources, fostering collaboration and building a resilient, sustainable future. Supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the BCDP aims to address climate challenges through low-carbon, climate-resilient development strategies.

She also noted that the government has established mechanisms to channel funds efficiently and prioritize their use effectively. She urged stronger collaboration with civil society, emphasizing the need for greater youth and civil society representation in climate initiatives. She instructed Group 3 to address these gaps urgently.

She further said the BCDP symbolizes a multi-stakeholder approach, bringing 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 Hasan also called for integrating environmental protection and sustainable development into national policy. 

The workshop chaired and moderated by Dr. Farhina Ahmed, secretary of the ministry while Iqbal Abdullah Harun, secretary, Planning Division; Dr A K M Shahabuddin, additional secretary, Economic Relations Division and Na Won Kim, Country Operations Head, Bangladesh Resident Mission, ADB, among others, spoke.

Dr. Fahmida Khanom, Additional Secretary of the ministry presented an in-depth overview of the BCDP.

Later, Takeo Konishi, Director General, South Asia Regional Department, ADB, called on Environment and Water Resources Advisor and expressed ADB’s commitment to mobilizing concessional and green financing to accelerate Bangladesh’s climate resilience and sustainable development.