Five organisations were honoured with the EBL Climate Change Action Awards 2026 on Monday for innovative initiatives addressing climate change challenges in Bangladesh.
The second edition of the awards was hosted by private commercial lender Eastern Bank PLC (EBL) at the Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel, drawing policymakers, diplomats, business leaders and development partners to recognise private-sector leadership and grassroots innovation in climate action.
This year’s award recipients were cement manufacturer Siam City Cement (Bangladesh) Limited for green manufacturing, garment manufacturer Cassetex Ltd for energy efficiency, youth organisation Youth Action for Sustainable Future (YASF) for climate-smart agriculture, environmental platform Somoy Nature for climate education and policy advocacy, and insurer Green Delta Insurance PLC for climate adaptation and resilience.
Strengthening climate resilience and expanding sustainable finance require active private-sector engagement, while innovative solutions are crucial to protecting Bangladesh’s economic future, Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur said while addressing the programme as the chief guest.
The EBL Climate Change Action Awards are an annual initiative of Eastern Bank, organised in partnership with the embassies of Germany, France, Denmark and Sweden, and the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Bangladesh, and recognise excellence across five categories.
Locally driven initiatives can deliver effective responses to a global crisis and set strong benchmarks for sustainable development, said Eastern Bank Managing Director Ali Reza Iftekhar, adding that “meaningful climate action depends on cross-sector collaboration.”
German Ambassador Rüdiger Lotz, Danish Ambassador Christian Brix Møller, French Ambassador Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet, EU Ambassador and Head of Delegation Michael Miller, and Swedish Ambassador Nicolas Weeks also spoke at the ceremony, reaffirming their commitment to supporting climate action and sustainable growth in Bangladesh.
The organisers said the selection process was rigorous and transparent. The research team of the Center for Participatory Research and Development (CPRD) shortlisted 26 nominations from various sectors, which were assessed by a jury of industry experts and sustainability practitioners.
One winner in each category was selected based on impact, scalability, innovation and long-term sustainability.
Through the awards, Eastern Bank said it continues to reinforce its commitment to sustainable finance, responsible banking and national climate priorities, encouraging organisations to take effective action against climate change.
