A total of 18 projects were approved on Monday under the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust (BCCT) Fund to combat the impacts of climate change across the country.
The approvals were made during the 65th meeting of the Climate Change Trustee Board, held at the Bangladesh Secretariat and chaired by Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan.
According to a press release, the projects focus on promoting sustainable water management, river dredging, the use of renewable energy, and the development of environmentally friendly livelihoods.
Among the approved initiatives is a project titled “Building Climate-Resilient Environments through Natural Resources, Renewable Energy, and Safe Water” to be implemented in Bagerhat, Naogaon, Khagrachhari, and Rangamati districts.
A separate project has been approved for the re-excavation of the Baral River and Mirza Mahmud Canal in Baraigram Upazila of Natore District.
In addition, dredging of the Rajatrekha River in Munshiganj District has been approved, along with a riverbank protection project for the Alai and Jamuna rivers in Islampur Upazila of Jamalpur District.
A project to protect riverbanks in Charshahi Union of Lakshmipur District has also been approved. In Kaliganj, Debhata, and Assasuni upazilas of Satkhira District, a first-phase project has been sanctioned to ensure the supply of safe drinking water using sustainable technologies. Another project has been taken up to provide pure drinking water in three upazilas of Bagerhat District.
In Galachipa Municipality of Patuakhali District, an initiative has been approved to install solar panel-powered pump houses for safe drinking water supply, and another project will establish a reverse osmosis plant in Patuakhali Municipality for water purification.
A project has been adopted to support environmentally friendly alternative livelihoods for the local communities of St. Martin’s Island. Additionally, a safe water supply project will be implemented in Patiya Upazila of Chattogram District.
In the Chatkhil Municipality of Noakhali District, a project has been approved for canal re-excavation and drainage improvement to reduce waterlogging. Three separate projects have been approved to ensure safe drinking water in all upazilas of Rangamati, Khagrachhari, and Bandarban districts.
Adviser Rizwana said that the government’s main objective in combating the adverse impacts of climate change is to ensure safe drinking water for the people.
She added that the implementation of these projects will strengthen climate resilience in coastal, hilly, and drought-prone regions, thereby improving the living standards of local communities.
Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Adviser to the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Home Affairs; Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Gazi Md. Wali-ul-Haque, Managing Director of the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust; and representatives from various ministries, were present.