Environment,
Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today (Sunday, September
29) said the World Bank will provide US$ 300 million assistance for the
Bangladesh Clean Air Project (BCAP).
This
clean air initiative is going to be taken to strengthen air quality management
and reduce emissions from key sectors, she said.
The
environment adviser shared the information following a high-level meeting with
Martin Raiser, vice-president of the World Bank South Asia Region, and
Abdoulaye Seck, World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh.
The
meeting was held at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change at
Bangladesh Secretariat.
Rizwana,
also the water resources adviser, said the project will be funded by an IDA
credit, along with a potential grant for clean cooking initiatives as part of
the National Air Quality Management Plan.
During
the meeting, she also sought the World Bank's assistance in waste management
and the restoration of Dhaka's canals to create a "blue network."
She
mentioned about the possibility of support for a "Loss and Damage
Fund" as well as aid in implementing the National Adaptation Plan (NAP).
The
adviser highlighted the government's strong commitment to environmental
protection and sustainable development.
She
stressed the need for taking integrated approaches to water resource management
and climate change mitigation.
World
Bank Vice-President Martin Raiser commended Bangladesh's efforts to implement
progressive environmental policies and affirmed the Bank's support in aligning
these efforts with global best practices.
WB
Bangladesh Country Director Abdoulaye Seck emphasised the importance of
international collaboration and strategic investments to achieve long-term
sustainability goals.
The
secretary and additional secretary of the environment ministry and senior
officials from both the ministry and the World Bank were present at the meeting.
The
meeting concluded with both sides committing to deeper cooperation on
environmental governance, climate resilience, and water resource management,
with a mutual goal of working towards a sustainable future for Bangladesh.