The much-anticipated launch of “Fair Finance Bangladesh” unfolded on October 16, 2024, at the prestigious Lakeshore Hotel in Gulshan. This landmark event, a gathering of visionaries and changemakers, marked a significant stride toward reshaping Bangladesh’s financial landscape. Organized by Participatory Research and Action Network (PRAAN) in collaboration with Oxfam in Bangladesh, and the Democratic Budget Movement, the event emphasized the importance of sustainable financing and responsible investment in Bangladesh’s financial sector to achieve long-term development goals.

Chief guest Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya and notable figures such as City Bank PLC’s Managing Director & CEO Mr. Mashrur Arefin, Lead Energy Analyst at Institute for Energy Economics & Financial Analysis (IEEFA) Mr. Shafiqul Alam, Professor of Department of Development Studies at Dhaka University Dr. Kazi Maruful Islam, Professor of Department of Economics at Jahangirnagar University & Member, White Paper on the State of Bangladesh Economy Ms. Sharmind Neelormi among others discussed advancing climate finance and ensuring fair, sustainable economic growth.

Executive Director at NGO Forum on ADB Mr. Rayyan Hasan, Chief Executive Officer at Infolady Social Enterprise Limited Dr Ananya Raihan, Secretary of BWGED Mr. Hasan Mehedi, National Project Analyst, United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) Md Shariful Islam Chowdhury, Head of Climate Justice and Natural Resource Rights (CJNRR) at Oxfam in Bangladesh. Dr. Mohammad Emran Hasan, and Change Initiative’s Executive Mohammad Zakir Hossain Khan also enriched the discussion. They highlighted the need for stronger accountability, and clear definitions of green and sustainable financing, and focused on climate justice within Bangladesh’s RMG sector.

Sadman Sakib Ahmed, the national lead for Fair Finance Bangladesh, underscored the project’s mission to empower civil society, engage stakeholders, and push for greater transparency in financing, integrating gender equality and community perspectives.

This launch marked the beginning of Fair Finance Bangladesh’s in alignment with the aim of Fair Finance Asia, is a network of CSOs committed to ensuring that financial institutions operating in the Asia region uphold the social and environmental rights and well-being of local communities, focusing on creating a climate-conscious financial system and ensuring fair participation in climate finance markets.

The event facilitated networking among policymakers, civil society, and industry leaders, with 35 attendees supporting the initiative to drive responsible financing forward.

FFB will work to promote sustainable finance in Bangladesh by encouraging financial institutions to adopt responsible policies and practices, with a focus on transparency and strengthened regulation in collaboration with government bodies and regulators.