Syeda Rizwana  Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change -File Photo

DHAKA, Nov 11, 2025 (BSS) - A high-level delegation from the Asian 
Development Bank (ADB), led by Tariq H. Niazi, senior director of Public 
Sector Management and Governance Department, ADB Headquarters in Philippines, 
and Hoe Yun Jeong, country director of ADB Bangladesh, met with Syeda Rizwana 
Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change at 
her office in Bangladesh Secretariat today.

During the meeting, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, also the adviser to the Ministry of 
Water Resources, underscored the urgent need to safeguard Bangladesh's 
agricultural land from rapid and unsustainable conversion, noting that the 
country is losing nearly one percent of its cultivable land each year.
 
She urged ADB to assist the government in conducting a comprehensive mapping 
of agricultural zones and to provide both technical and financial support to 
strengthen land-use governance and ensure food security by 2050, said a 
Ministry press release.

The adviser also emphasized the importance of rainwater harvesting as an 
effective climate adaptation measure, especially in coastal regions. 

She called for ADB's support in scaling up small-scale community water 
initiatives into nationwide programs. Rizwana Hasan reiterated the 
government's commitment to developing bankable climate-resilient projects, 
particularly under the Bangladesh Climate Development Partnership (BCDP), and 
mentioned that shortlisted projects will soon be shared with ADB for further 
collaboration.

In response, Niazi, senior director of the ADB, reaffirmed ADB's strong 
partnership with Bangladesh and expressed readiness to provide additional 
funding and technical assistance for climate-resilient development and 
institutional strengthening.
 
Country Director Jeong highlighted ADB's ongoing initiatives to mobilize 
private sector investment and said an ADB mission from the Office of Market 
Development would visit Dhaka next week to explore resource mobilization 
opportunities.

Both parties agreed on the need for faster implementation of pilot projects-
especially in river restoration, water management, and community adaptation-
to achieve tangible results on the ground.

Sameer Khatiwada, principal economist; Sandeep Bhattacharya, principal public 
sector specialist; and Mousumi Pervin, senior climate change officer of ADB 
Bangladesh were also present, among others, at the meeting.