Bangladesh struggles to get $1–2B from IMF despite $30B disaster need

Bangladesh requires $30 billion each year to effectively tackle disasters. However, securing even one or two billion dollars from the IMF remains an extreme challenge, said Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed.

He made the remarks on Monday (8 September) at the inauguration of the “Navigating Climate Finance: Media Reporting Training” session, held at the PKSF Auditorium in Agargaon, Dhaka.

The adviser said Bangladesh is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. In addition to natural disasters, man-made disasters also occur frequently. He added that negotiations with the IMF for $5 billion are planned in the near future.

Highlighting the proactive role of local communities in disaster management, he said, “People at the local level respond to disasters with their own efforts. That is a positive aspect. If someone waits for assistance from Dhaka, such as fire service personnel, help may not arrive in time.”

Salehuddin Ahmed emphasised the crucial role of journalists, saying, “Journalists need to work on raising awareness about climate change. We must be vigilant. Students in Japan are conscious about disasters; we also need to foster awareness. Children should be educated about disasters from an early age.”

Other speakers at the training included Chief Adviser Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, ERD Secretary Md. Shahriar Kader Siddique, and PKSF Managing Director Md. Fazlu Kader.