No escape from red tape: Bangladesh's pavilion stands empty at COP30 despite millions spent
Youth organisers were reportedly turned away by officials, including Ziaul Haque, additional director general at the Department of Environment, and seen in tears outside the pavilion
While pavilions from around the world bustled with discussions and events at the COP30 climate summit in Brazil's Belém, Bangladesh's pavilion remained largely empty, awaiting a formal inauguration by an absent senior bureaucrat.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change reportedly spent several million taka to set up the pavilion, but no events were held after the conference opened on 10 November.
Even as dozens of countries hosted back-to-back events featuring civil society organisations (CSOs), youth networks, and experts, Bangladesh's pavilion remained closed.
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Officials said it would open only after its formal inauguration by Mohammad Navid Saifullah, additional secretary (Climate Change Wing), who had yet to arrive as of today (12 November) evening (Bangladesh time).
"Our additional secretary sir will come; he will officially inaugurate the pavilion, then the programme will start," said Mirza Shakhar Ali, director of International Convention at the Department of Environment and one of Bangladesh's leading delegates, when asked why the venue remained unused.
Organisers of a youth event titled "Local to Global: Youth Inclusion in the Loss and Damage Framework", jointly arranged by Daffodil University and two youth organisations, YOUNGO and YOUCAN, said they were asked to cancel their session scheduled for today due to the pending inauguration.
"We got confirmation through official mail before coming to COP30," said moderator Jasmina Sabatina. "Now the authorities are requesting us to cancel the programme."
Several international experts, including Harjeet Singh, global engagement director of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, had been invited to the event. "I was invited to speak at the Bangladesh pavilion, but the event was cancelled because it hasn't been inaugurated," Singh confirmed.
On-site observation over two days found the pavilion largely deserted, with no events listed in the official COP30 calendar until tomorrow, 13 November.
Youth organisers were reportedly turned away by officials, including Ziaul Haque, additional director general at the Department of Environment, and seen in tears outside the pavilion.
"They can arrange it on another day," Ziaul was overheard telling an organiser, who replied that rescheduling was impossible due to her international guests' tight schedules.
Mohammad Navid Saifullah, however, said, "I have not instructed any of my team members to withhold or cancel any event till my arrival."
Dr Farhina Ahmed, secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, told The Business Standard, "We had some last-minute changes in the Bangladesh delegation. The honourable adviser and I could not join COP30 due to pressing national priorities. A new head of delegation and leadership team will be arriving soon to continue our planned activities.
"We remain confident that everything will proceed as per our original plan. Your continued cooperation, feedback, and suggestions are always welcome."
Officials familiar with the delegation's arrangements said each delegate's travel to COP30 cost between Tk4 to Tk7 lakh in airfare alone, plus accommodation and logistical expenses. The pavilion itself reportedly cost several million taka to design and build, though officials kept expenditure details private.
When asked about the costs, Mirza Shawkat Ali, Farhina Ahmed, and Mohammad Navid Saifullah declined to comment. Dharitri Kumar Sarkar, joint secretary at the ministry, also chose not to comment.
Bangladesh's presence at key negotiations appeared minimal. On 11 November, plenary sessions of CMP (meeting of the parties to the Kyoto Protocol), CMA (meeting of the parties to the Paris Agreement), SBI (Subsidiary Body for Implementation), and SBSTA (Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice) saw no Bangladeshi delegates in attendance, leaving the country's seat visibly empty.
During the Gender Action Plan discussions, Roslina Parvin, the ministry's designated focal point, was absent despite being in Belém. In contrast, delegates Ziaul Haque, Professor Mizan R Khan, and Professor Dr AKM Saiful Islam attended the LDC coordination meeting later that day.
Bangladesh also skipped a key joint plenary session at COP30, where Manjeet Dhakal, adviser to the Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group and a Nepali climate expert, delivered a statement on behalf of Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal. The address called for urgent global action to safeguard the planet, strengthen regional cooperation, and protect vulnerable communities.
Ironically, while Bangladesh has repeatedly emphasised the need for stronger regional coordination, its representatives were absent from such key discussions despite being formally invited.
For instance, during a regional event titled "Regional Climate Diplomacy: A Way Forward for the Air Pollution Problem" held at the Pakistan Pavilion, Ziaul Haque was scheduled to participate and even featured on the event banner.
However, his seat remained empty as he failed to attend.
Over the two days, only one coordination meeting took place at the Bangladesh pavilion, with many delegates not participating.
Observers, CSOs, and youth participants expressed frustration that, despite heavy spending on its pavilion and delegation logistics, Bangladesh had failed to ensure meaningful participation.
"This pavilion should have been a space to showcase Bangladesh's leadership in adaptation and resilience," said a young delegate who requested anonymity. "Instead, it's become a symbol of bureaucratic rigidity."
As of this evening, the pavilion remained unused, awaiting its absent chief guest, while other delegations pressed ahead with climate negotiations.
Meanwhile, Farida Akhter, adviser to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, arrived in Belém, Brazil, this evening (Bangladesh time) as scheduled.
After her arrival, she reportedly contacted representatives of CSOs and NGOs, asking them to bring any materials they wished to use to decorate the Bangladesh pavilion. She also visited the venue around 11am local time.
Notably, neither the chief adviser nor the environment adviser attended COP30 this year.
