Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has said that corruption is rife in multiple levels of every climate change mitigation projects in the country, ranging from formulation to implementation.
Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of TIB said, “Climate change projects are approved on the basis of political consideration leaving the demand and importance from local perspective aside which opens the window for corruption.”
He made the observation at a press conference on Thursday while revealing a report titled "Challenges of good governance in financing and project implementation of climate change mitigation and pathway to overcome”.
Dr Iftekharuzzaman also said, research conducted in seven sample climate change projects found numerous types to irregularities and corruption as all the seven projects were approved on the basis of political consideration.
“There are allegations of bribing 10 percent in advance in approving three climate change projects to a personal secretary of a former minister”, said the TIB chief.
Citing an example of waste and fraud of public money, he said, from a 650 Kilowatt (KW) solar-powered plant only 50 KW power is supplied to the consumer end because of executive order restrictions. This kind of behaviour paved the way to waste 180 megawatts of power every year since 2017.
Despite having constitutional obligation on protecting the climate and mitigating climate change, Bangladesh is investing in coal and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) fired power plants which is detrimental to the climate.
TIB believes that Bangladesh's effort to mitigate climate change may soon be called into question.
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