On May 20, 2025, the Climate Action & Sustainability Hub (CASH) was officially inaugurated at Hotel Amari Dhaka, marking a significant milestone in Bangladesh’s commitment to sustainable development, green finance, and climate accountability. The high-level launch event convened policymakers, academics, industry leaders, and sustainability experts to foster collaborative efforts toward building a greener and more resilient future.
Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur, Honorable Governor of Bangladesh Bank, graced the occasion as Chief Guest and emphasized the critical need for joint action between public and private sectors in addressing climate challenges and advancing green finance. Mr. A. K. M. Sohel, Additional Secretary (Wing Chief, United Nations), Economic Relations Division, Ministry of Finance, attended as Special Guest and highlighted that CASH’s establishment comes at a pivotal moment, offering a collaborative platform to support policy alignment, climate finance, and capacity building in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement.
The event commenced with welcome remarks from Dr. Bazlul Haque Khondker, (Trustee of CASH), followed by an introductory presentation from Mr. Al Maruf Khan FCA (Trustee of CASH), Dr. Ainun Nishat (Chairman of CASH), and Dr. Zakir Ahmed Khan (Trustee of CASH), who jointly articulated the platform’s vision, mission, and strategic objectives aimed at establishing sustainability leadership in Bangladesh. The session also presented Ambassador Kazi Imtiaz Hossain, a Trustee of CASH.
A distinguished panel discussion featuring Dr. Md Sajjad Hossain Bhuiyan, Chairman of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) Bangladesh; Dr. Selim Raihan, Executive Director of the South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM); Ms. Maria Howlader FCA, President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB); Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman, Director General of the Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management (BIBM); and Mr. Syed Nasim Manzur, President of the Leathergoods and Footwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association of Bangladesh (LFMEAB). The panel explored key issues including climate action, economic resilience, sustainable governance, and the evolving role of the private sector.
An engaging open-floor discussion further enriched the dialogue, enabling participants to exchange ideas and outline future priorities. The event concluded with closing remarks from Dr. Zaidi Sattar (Trustee of CASH), who underscored the growing importance of environmental considerations in shaping future markets and services. The evening concluded with a group photo session and networking dinner.
CASH is a multi-stakeholder knowledge and action platform established through a partnership among the Policy Research Institute (PRI) Bangladesh, the Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research (C3ER) at BRAC University, and Sharp Consulting Bangladesh Limited. It aims to bridge the gap between policy, research, and practice, delivering holistic solutions in climate policy, ESG compliance, and sustainability leadership in Bangladesh.
