Govt okays 18 climate resilience projects
Staff Reporter :
The government has approved 18 new projects under the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust (BCCT) Fund to enhance the country’s ability to withstand climate impacts.
The approval was granted on Sunday during the 65th meeting of the Climate Change Trustee Board at the Bangladesh Secretariat, chaired by Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan.
According to a press release, the projects will support sustainable water resource management, river dredging, renewable energy initiatives, and environmentally sound livelihood programmes in vulnerable regions.
Among the approved initiatives, a major project titled “Building Climate-Resilient Environments through Natural Resources, Renewable Energy, and Safe Water” will be rolled out in Bagerhat, Naogaon, Khagrachhari, and Rangamati. Another key project will focus on re-excavating the Baral River and Mirza Mahmud Canal in Baraigram upazila of Natore.
Additional projects include dredging the Rajatrekha River in Munshiganj and riverbank protection for the Alai and Jamuna rivers in Jamalpur’s Islampur upazila. Riverbank protection in Charshahi Union of Lakshmipur and safe drinking water supply systems in Satkhira’s Kaliganj, Debhata, and Assasuni upazilas have also been cleared. Safe water projects will further be implemented across three upazilas in Bagerhat.
In Patuakhali’s Galachipa Municipality, solar-powered pump houses will be installed to ensure safe drinking water, while a reverse osmosis (RO) water purification plant will be set up in Patuakhali Municipality.
Another project aims to support climate-friendly alternative livelihoods on St Martin’s Island. Safe water supply initiatives have also been approved for Patiya upazila in Chattogram.
In Noakhali’s Chatkhil Municipality, a drainage and canal re-excavation project has been sanctioned to mitigate waterlogging. Three separate projects will provide safe drinking water across all upazilas in Rangamati, Khagrachhari, and Bandarban.
“The government’s priority in addressing climate change is to ensure safe drinking water for every citizen,” Adviser Rizwana Hasan said.
“These projects will boost climate resilience in coastal, hilly, and drought-prone regions, ultimately improving the quality of life in vulnerable communities.”
Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Environment Secretary Farhina Ahmed, Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Managing Director Gazi Md Wali-ul-Haque, and representatives from various ministries attended the meeting.