Bangladesh faces rising climate threats, with heatwaves, floods and salinity endangering livelihoods. World Bank urges urgent action, stronger private sector role and investment in resilient infrastructure over the next decade.
Bangladesh could face sharply intensified climate risks within the next five years if current trends persist, the World Bank warned in a new report released in Dhaka on Monday, highlighting growing threats to livelihoods, infrastructure and public health across the country.
The report, titled From Risk to Resilience: Helping People and Firms Adapt in South Asia, identifies Bangladesh as the most vulnerable country in an already climate-exposed South Asian region, citing high population density, accelerating warming and geographic exposure as key drivers of risk.
According to the World Bank, by 2030 nearly 90 percent of South Asia’s population is expected to experience extreme heatwaves, while about one-quarter will face severe flood risks. In Bangladesh, rising salinity in coastal areas is already affecting agriculture, freshwater access and health outcomes, putting millions of livelihoods at risk.
The report notes that the burden of climate adaptation is increasingly falling on households and businesses. More than three-quarters of them expect weather-related shocks within the next decade. So far, 63 percent of firms and 80 percent of households have taken some form of adaptation measures, though most remain low-cost and basic rather than technology-driven.
A survey conducted across 250 coastal villages in Bangladesh found that climate-resilient infrastructure remains the most urgent unmet need. Poor and agriculture-dependent households are bearing the brunt of the crisis.
Despite these challenges, government investments in embankments, cyclone shelters and early warning systems have significantly reduced loss of life during major disasters, the report said.
However, the scale of the crisis exceeds the capacity of public sector efforts alone. With budget constraints limiting governments across South Asia, the report stresses the need for stronger private sector engagement to support adaptation efforts.
Jean Pesme, World Bank Division Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan, said Bangladesh’s resilience is being repeatedly tested by environmental challenges. He emphasized the need to strengthen adaptation through improved urban planning, early warning systems, social protection, climate-smart agriculture and innovative financing.
Siddharth Sharma, the World Bank’s chief economist and co-author of the report, said Bangladesh has already made notable progress in adaptation. “However, addressing the complexity of the climate crisis requires coordinated and rapid action from both government and the private sector,” he said.
The report also highlights that investments in early warning systems and cyclone shelters have proven effective in reducing fatalities during major disasters. It adds that targeted investments and stronger institutional partnerships will be crucial to accelerate climate-resilient development in the future.
Farhina Ahmed, secretary of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, said tackling climate risks is both costly and complex, requiring diversified investments. She noted that while the government has already introduced several policies, implementation remains the biggest challenge. Several pilot projects are currently underway to address this gap.
Experts say that with coordinated efforts, increased use of technology and adequate financing, Bangladesh can further strengthen its capacity to confront the escalating climate crisis.
