Climate finance must be fair, transparent, community-centric: Rizwana
She also pointed out that while a few countries continue to uphold their commitments, others use climate narratives selectively.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today (10 December) said reforms in climate finance must prioritise community needs, institutional capacity, and transparency.
"Bangladesh cannot afford a system where process outweighs outcomes. We need faster delivery, stronger planning, better coordination with international partners, and a funding framework that protects vulnerable citizens," she said, expressing hope for an actionable national strategy emerging from the consultation.
The environment adviser made the remarks while addressing the consultation workshop titled "National Climate Finance Strategy Formulation for Bangladesh," held at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel here.
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The workshop brought together senior government officials, development partners, and climate finance experts, including AKM Sohel, Additional Secretary and UN Wing Chief, Economic Relations Division and Nayoka Martinez Bäckström, First Secretary (Environment and Climate Change) & Deputy Head of Cooperation, Embassy of Sweden to identify financial pathways needed to address Bangladesh's increasing climate vulnerabilities.
Speaking as the chief guest, Rizwana recalled that the global climate financing commitment emerged from the principle of "new and additional" support from historically responsible and technologically advanced economies.
"Over the years, these commitments have been diluted. Many countries most responsible for climate crises still deny established science. That denial makes climate finance more complex and profoundly unjust," she said.
She also pointed out that while a few countries continue to uphold their commitments, others use climate narratives selectively.
At the national level, the climate change adviser highlighted disproportionate budget allocation patterns.
"Every year, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change receives the lowest allocation, while mega-infrastructure projects receive priority.
Adaptation, waste management, and community-level resilience remain underfunded," she stated.
Rizwana further regretted that Bangladesh has not yet established a functioning national waste management system even after 54 years of independence.
"We cannot claim adaptation readiness while ignoring foundational weaknesses," she added.
The adviser said institutional strengthening must precede greater financial inflow.
"Money alone is not enough. Agencies must have planning capacity, competent teams, and efficient mechanisms. Even awareness material takes months due to procedural delays. If processes become the objective, outcomes will inevitably suffer," she remarked.
She urged the Ministry of Finance to simplify procedural layers while ensuring transparency.
Referring to new institutional arrangements, she highlighted the role of the Bangladesh Climate Development Partnership (BCDP), supported by Sweden, UNDP, AFD and others.
"BCDP must emerge as the central coordination platform. With working groups on domestic finance, international finance, project development, and monitoring, it must set strategic direction," she said.
Rizwana emphasised the need for adequate technological resources, skilled manpower, and dedicated workspace for the Secretariat of BCDP.
She also informed participants that access procedures for the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund have been restructured, enabling NGOs to apply jointly with relevant ministries or departments.
"This allows government institutions to benefit from grassroots reach while civil society gains meaningful policy engagement," she noted.
Calling for equity-based allocation, the environment adviser reiterated the urgency of directing greater resources to adaptation.
"In river-erosion belts, saline regions, and drought-affected areas, hundreds of applications come to us, yet only a fraction can be supported. Investment in protecting vulnerable citizens brings far greater economic return than
adding another expressway," she said, warning that tagging unrelated expenditure such as defence as climate finance "undermines accountability and credibility."
Later, Adviser Rizwana Hasan spoke on Human Rights Day 2025 at a programme titled "Strengthening Bangladesh's Commitment to Justice and Rights for All," held at Hotel InterContinental.
She stated that the government is committed to ensuring justice and upholding human rights.
She mentioned that complaints against law-enforcement agencies will now be reviewed through the newly established Police Commission, which serves as an institutional platform for grievance redress.
If led by competent and impartial individuals, this mechanism, she noted, could become a landmark achievement.
She further emphasised that Bangladesh is moving towards a more structured democratic framework.
"We have initiated reforms within policing. Progress has also been made in protecting environmental and forest rights. The conduct of future leadership will determine how the country moves forward. But at the very least, due to the space created for freedom of expression, unilateral decisions without accountability will no longer remain easy," she said, adding that necessary legal reforms are being developed and inclusive progress remains the primary objective.
Dr Asif Nazrul, Adviser, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs; Adilur Rahman Khan, Adviser, Ministry of Housing and Public Works; Stefan Liller, UNDP Bangladesh; and Dr. Hafiz Ahmed Chowdhury, Secretary, Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division, were also present.
