Bangladesh has so far received US$17.34 billion in 106 projects from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), including nearly $6.0 billion for 36 gas-focused schemes that collectively support 3,659MW generation capacity, a new study has revealed. Civil society groups say this long-standing reliance on fossil fuel lending is now undermining the country’s energy security and climate resilience.
the report titled ‘MDBs in the Energy Sector of Bangladesh’ shows that ADB’s gasrelated financing has been overwhelmingly loan-driven, with 60 per cent coming from its Technical Assistance Special Fund and 36 per cent from high-interest Ordinary Capital Resources (OCR). Only 4 per cent, totaling $2.59 million, was provided through concessional Asian Development Fund support. Presented at the Bangladesh Energy Conference recently, the study argues that this financing pattern has contributed to mounting debt, stranded capacity and avoidable emissions. Campaigners warn that ADB’s fossil-heavy strategy has increased Bangladesh’s exposure to fuel shortages, costly capacity payments and high-risk energy infrastructure at a time when global investment is shifting rapidly towards cleaner, cheaper and more resilient alternatives.