Bangladesh will require approximately $421 billion in extra funding over the next five years to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to a new government assessment unveiled on Sunday.
The estimate, covering the period from FY2026 to FY2030, was presented at a national workshop in the capital titled “National Validation Workshop on the Development Finance Assessment (DFA) and SDG Financing.”
The event was organised by the Economic Relations Division (ERD), with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Bangladesh.
The assessment reviewed findings from the DFA, a global tool designed to align financing policies and financial flows with national priorities, and discussed the country’s updated SDG Financing Strategy.
Speaking as the Chief Guest, Secretary of ERD Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky acknowledged that the remaining period until 2030 would be challenging due to a large financing gap, limited time, and an uncertain global environment.
“What we now need is a clear set of priorities, coordinated action, better governance and effective implementation,” he said, expressing confidence in the nation’s progress.
UN Resident Coordinator Carol Flore-Smereczniak emphasised the urgency of domestic resource mobilisation. She noted that as international development financing opportunities diminish, Bangladesh must focus on increasing its tax-to-GDP ratio and encouraging the private sector to engage in SDG-aligned investments.
Additional Secretary of ERD and event Chair, AHM Jahangir, highlighted the necessity of a “joined-up financing plan” as the country prepares for its graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status.
Representing the UNDP, Deputy Resident Representative Sonali Dayaratne warned that the funding gap has widened further. She urged the government to use public resources to leverage and de-risk private investments, stressing the importance of economic governance.
“Getting it right requires building a financial ecosystem that is grounded in the application of transparent rules and regulations for all,” she stated.
Presenting the findings, Dhaka University Professor of Economics Dr Selim Raihan explained that the majority of the required $421 billion would need to be sourced from domestic public and private finance, climate finance, and international partnerships.
The workshop, which brought together government officials, development partners, bankers, academics, and civil society, was supported by the UNDP Climate Finance Network (CFN) Programme, funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
Feedback from the session will be used to finalise the DFA and the Financing Strategy.
