Bangladesh must integrate climate resilience into economic planning, industrial investment and energy policy to protect agricultural output, jobs and economic growth, speakers at a policy dialogue have said, calling for stronger adaptation, coordinated infrastructure planning, affordable climate finance and renewable energy expansion.
The recommendations came at "Green Dialogue: Climate Change and Economic Restructuring", organised by Bonik Barta at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon hotel in Dhaka yesterday (15 October), with more than 400 representatives from government, business, finance, research and development organisations.
Citing a World Bank projection, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo, the chief guest, said Bangladesh's GDP growth could reach 3.4% in FY26, stressing that the forecast underscored the need to prepare for climate-related losses amid high inflation, slower growth and energy-sector pressures.
Fahmida Khatun, distinguished fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue, said conventional GDP calculations failed to capture the full economic costs of climate change and environmental degradation, potentially overstating economic performance. She urged the government and businesses to treat environmental protection as an economic priority.
Chingfeng Zhang, ADB country director in Bangladesh, called for climate-resilient infrastructure, including drainage, sewage treatment, waste management and river restoration.
He cited annual cyclone losses of around $1 billion and projected climate-related internal migration of 13.3 million by 2050, urging investment-ready projects, concessional climate finance for vulnerable communities and private investment.
Business leaders warned that policy barriers could constrain renewable energy expansion.
Mohammad Mustafa Haider, group director of TK Group, said real-time metering under the merchant power arrangement could restrict solar electricity use to generation hours, without allowing surplus power to offset electricity supplied by the grid or Power Development Board. This could limit solar power to 18.78% of 24-hour demand, he said.
Meghna Group of Industries Chairman and Managing Director Mustafa Kamal called for industrial investments that account for local climate conditions, environmental impacts and livelihoods.
Hams Group Managing Director Engineer Shafiqul Rahman said green factories should prioritise energy efficiency, lower carbon emissions, reduced groundwater extraction and water recycling rather than tree planting alone.
United Commercial Bank Chairman and Ananta Group Managing Director Sharif Zahir called for experienced negotiators to secure Bangladesh's fair share of climate compensation from developed countries at international negotiations.