More than half of Bangladesh’s national climate funds have been lost to corruption, according to a research by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB). The group found that corruption occurred in 54% of the grants authorized under the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund (BCCTF) between 2010 and 2024. About USD 248.4 million, or more than Tk 2,110 crore, is thought to be at stake.
during the MIDAS Center in Dhanmondi, Dhaka, on Tuesday, November 4, the information was unveiled during the introduction of TIB’s study report, “Challenges of Good Governance and the Way Forward in Climate Finance in Bangladesh.”
According to TIB’s report, a total of USD 458.5 million was approved from the BCCTF between 2010 and 2024. More than half of that allocation was marred by corruption. The report points to clear trends of political influence, collusion, and nepotism in project approvals, while BCCTF officials—responsible for fund management—failed to take effective action against irregularities.
TIB further stated that Bangladesh needs USD 12.5 billion annually to address climate impacts. However, between 2015 and 2023, the country received an average of only USD 86.2 million per year from both national and international sources—merely 0.7% of the required amount.
Allocations from national funds have decreased at an average annual rate of 8.2%, while allocations from international funds have increased by 43.8%. Still, the total funding remains far below what is needed.
The report also found that project implementation under national funds often suffers from delays and failures. Of 891 projects, 549 were extended—on average, projects planned for 648 days took 1,515 days to complete, a 133% time increase. Some four-year projects took as long as 14 years to finish. Similar delays were observed in international funds—of 51 projects, 21 were extended by an average of 52%.
At the press conference, TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman stated that Bangladesh needs USD 10–12 billion annually in climate compensation. Yet, from 2003 to 2024, the country received only USD 1.2 billion, which he described as “utterly negligible.”
He added that 54% of national climate funds have been lost to corruption, largely siphoned off by politically influential individuals. This situation has arisen from a lack of accountability, good governance, and efficiency, he said, emphasizing that such conditions must change.
Dr. Iftekharuzzaman concluded that without ensuring transparency, accountability, and participation of genuine beneficiaries, sustainable development in climate finance will remain impossible.
