It is disheartening but perhaps unsurprising to learn that, as per a recent report from Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), more than 50% of funds allocated for our national climate projects have been lost to internal malpractice.
That essentially the majority of funds failed to reach the intended purpose due to corruption once again tells us what we have known for some time: Our nation remains at the mercy of corrupt practices and it is the everyday Bangladeshi who continues to suffer as a result.
The data revealed that out of the $458.5 million allocated for 891 Bangladesh Climate Change Trust (BCCT) approved projects over a 14-year period (2010-2024), $248.4m was squandered through unscrupulous practices on various levels -- through bribery, embezzlement, and collusion.
This is, quite simply, shameful.
For a climate-vulnerable country like ours, which stands at the frontline of crises like cyclones, rising sea levels, and changing rainfall patterns, it is crucial that we do what we can -- with the limited resources and international funding that we are provided.
To that end, such a rotten structure that exacerbates an already-escalating issue can simply not not be tolerated.
That the corruption stemmed from the inside should be a matter of great concern to us. To what degree have we lost our sense of responsibility to so shamelessly snatch away our nation’s protection?
Moreover, if this kind of misappropriation has been allowed to go on for 14 years, it also begs the question: Who are the actors who continue to not only overlook but also facilitate this thievery, and how can we ensure they are brought to justice?
As TIB suggests, and we absolutely agree, the policies surrounding these projects and funding management need to be strengthened, and independent supervision must be arranged to guarantee a reform in a long-broken system free from political interference and personal greed.
This cannot be allowed to continue if we want to even have a nation for our future generations.
