Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Press Release

Govt. Approves 29 New Projects under BCCT to Combat Climate Change

Dhaka, 27 March 2025:
The Government of Bangladesh has approved 29 new projects under the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund (BCCTF) to address the growing threats posed by climate change. The approval was granted at the 62nd meeting of the Trustee Board, held at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The meeting was chaired by Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry.

Distinguished attendees included Lieutenant General (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Advisor to the Ministries of Home and Agriculture; Sharmin S. Murshid, Advisor to the Ministries of Women and Children, and Social Welfare; Cabinet Secretary Dr. Sheikh Abdur Rashid; Secretary of Environment Dr. Farhina Ahmed; and Secretary of Finance Dr. Md. Khairuzzaman Mozumder, among other high-ranking officials.

These projects have been designed to strengthen climate resilience, conserve the environment, and promote sustainable agricultural and urban development. Key initiatives include research on carbon emissions and climate-resilient agriculture in Bangladesh’s haor wetlands, as well as the development of eco-friendly technologies to enhance dairy production. The impact of climate change on plant phenology in four ecological hotspots will also be studied.

Additionally, projects will focus on improving onion seed storage and production, adopting climate-smart agricultural technologies in char, haor, and coastal regions, and restoring water bodies in major urban centers like Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi, and Sylhet. Afforestation along five canals in Narayanganj and conservation efforts in Gazipur’s Lobonadaha Canal are also planned.

To ensure access to clean drinking water in remote regions, solar-powered deep tube wells will be installed in the hill tracts of Rangamati, while safe drinking water initiatives will be introduced for affected communities in Bandarban. Other notable projects include subsidized jute bags as an alternative to plastic, expansion of palm and mangrove plantations, biodiversity conservation, and research on antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

The projects will be implemented by various government agencies and research institutions, including the Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board, the Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology at the University of Chittagong, the Department of Public Health Engineering, the Bangladesh Agricultural University, the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, and the Department of Environment, among others.

Speaking at the meeting, Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan emphasized the need for a coordinated approach to tackling climate change. She expressed optimism that these projects would not only drive sustainable development but also ensure significant progress in environmental conservation and biodiversity protection.

Signed:
Dipankar Bar
Public Relations Officer