Bangladesh will need about $421 billion in extra funding over the next five years, FY26-30, to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). The finding came from a new government assessment unveiled on Sunday at a national workshop in Dhaka.
Economic Relations Division (ERD) organised the workshop titled National Validation Workshop on Development Finance Assessment (DFA) and SDG Financing.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office in Bangladesh supported the event.
The workshop reviewed DFA, a global tool that aligns financing policies and institutions with national priorities. It also discussed Bangladesh’s updated SDG Financing Strategy.
Officials say the financing gap for the remaining SDG period is large, and time is limited.
The plan calls for domestic public and private finance, climate finance, and international partnerships to close the gap.
ERD Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky, speaking as the chief guest, said the remaining period up to 2030 will be challenging. He observed the financing gap is large, time is limited, and the global environment is uncertain, however, Bangladesh can still make meaningful progress with clear priorities, coordinated action, better governance, and effective implementation.
UN Resident Coordinator Carol Flore-Smereczniak said development financing opportunities are shrinking worldwide but Bangladesh has a chance to raise domestic investment in the SDGs by increasing its tax-to-GDP ratio and encouraging SDG-aligned private investment.
Additional Secretary of ERD AHM Jahangir, who chaired the event, said Bangladesh needs a joined-up financing plan as it prepares to graduate from Least Developed Country (LDC) status.
UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Sonali Dayaratne said Bangladesh government can use public resources to leverage and derisk private investment. Pointing out that the real challenge is economic governance, she called for a financial ecosystem built on transparent rules for all.
Dhaka University Economics Department Professor Selim Raihan presented the findings and said most of the $421 billion needed for FY26–30 will have to come from domestic public and private finance, climate finance, and international partnerships.
The workshop was supported by the UNDP Climate Finance Network (CFN) Programme, funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
It brought together government officials, development partners, banks, academics, and civil society. Feedback from the workshop will help finalise both the DFA and the Financing Strategy.
