A new TIB report says 54% of allocations from the national climate fund, Bangladesh Climate Change Trust (BCCT), have been affected by corruption.
Illustration: TBS
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Illustration: TBS
Highlights:
- TIB estimates $248 million misappropriated from 891 projects between 2010 and 2024
- 61.6% of projects under national fund saw timeline extensions, average duration increased by 134%
- Iftekharuzzaman says political figures, influential individuals looted this money
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has said corruption has plagued more than half of Bangladesh’s national climate fund allocations, with an estimated $248 million (Tk2,110 crore) misappropriated from 891 projects between 2010 and 2024.
As much as 54% of allocations from the national climate fund, Bangladesh Climate Change Trust (BCCT), have been affected by corruption, according to a new TIB report unveiled today (4 November).
From 2010 to 2024, a total of $458.5 million was allocated through the BCCT, mentions the study, the findings of which were shared at a press conference titled “Challenges and Way Forward in Ensuring Good Governance in Climate Finance in Bangladesh” at the TIB office in Dhaka.
TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman speaks at a press conference on 4 November 2025. Photo: TBS
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TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman speaks at a press conference on 4 November 2025. Photo: TBS
The report states that project approvals were often influenced by political considerations and collusion among members of the trustee board and technical committee, while BCCT officials failed to take effective measures to prevent it.
It also notes that Bangladesh needs $12.5 billion annually to address climate impacts, but only $86.2 million per year was allocated between 2015 and 2023 from both national and international sources, a mere 0.7% of what is required.
It says allocations from the national fund have been decreasing at an average annual rate of 8.2%; international fund allocations have increased by 43.8%, yet remain far below the country’s needs.
The report further highlights delays and inefficiencies in implementing projects funded by the national trust.
Out of 891 projects, 549 (61.6%) had their timelines extended, with the average duration increasing by 133.8%, from 648 to 1,515 days.
Some projects originally planned for four years took up to 14 years to complete, it adds.
The report notes a similar pattern in projects funded by international sources: 41.2% of 51 projects experienced timeline extensions, with the average duration increasing by 52.1%, from 1,958 to 2,978 days.
Political figures, influential individuals behind corruption: Iftekharuzzaman
At the press conference, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said, “Bangladesh needs $10 to $12 billion every year as climate compensation. But from 2003 to 2024, we received only $1.2 billion, an extremely small amount.”
He added that 54% of the national climate fund has been lost to corruption and misuse.
“Political figures and influential individuals have looted this money. The corruption occurred due to a lack of accountability and good governance, political interference, and the incompetence and irregularities of implementing agencies,” he stated.