Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministries of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Water Resources, emphasized the need for reforms in climate finance that prioritize community needs, institutional capacity, and transparency. Speaking at the "National Climate Finance Strategy Formulation for Bangladesh" workshop, she called for faster delivery, stronger planning, and better coordination with international partners to protect vulnerable citizens, says a press release.
Hasan criticized the global dilution of climate financing commitments and highlighted Bangladesh's underfunded climate adaptation efforts, such as waste management and community-level resilience. She stressed the importance of strengthening institutions before increasing financial inflow, noting that procedural delays often hinder progress. She also advocated for equity-based allocation, directing more resources to adaptation projects in vulnerable regions.
Hasan highlighted the role of the Bangladesh Climate Development Partnership (BCDP) in coordinating climate finance efforts and emphasized the restructuring of the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund to enable greater involvement of NGOs and government institutions. She also called out the misuse of defense budgets as climate finance and underscored the urgent need for a more accountable and effective system.
Later, Hasan spoke at a Human Rights Day event, reaffirming the government's commitment to justice and human rights and the establishment of the Police Commission to review law enforcement complaints. She noted Bangladesh's ongoing democratic reforms, especially in policing and environmental rights.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
