Bangladesh will need $421b between FY2026-2030 to realise SDGs: Experts

Bangladesh will need about USD$421 billion in extra funding over the next five years to attain Sustainable Development Goals–according to a new government assessment unveiled on Sunday at a national workshop in the capital.

The Economic Relations Division (ERD), with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Bangladesh, organised the aforementioned “National Validation Workshop on the Development Finance Assessment (DFA) and SDG Financing”, said a press release.

The workshop reviewed findings from the DFA–a global tool that helps align financing policies, institutions, and financial flows with national development priorities and also discussed Bangladesh’s updated SDG financing strategy.

Speaking as the Chief Guest, Secretary of ERD Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky said, “The remaining period of SDGs up to 2030 will be challenging. The financing gap is large, the time available is limited, and the global environment remains uncertain. Nevertheless, I remain confident that Bangladesh can make meaningful progress.”

“What we now need is a clear set of priorities, coordinated action, better governance and effective implementation,” he added.

Carol Flore-Smereczniak, UN resident coordinator, highlighted the significance of domestic resource mobilisation at this moment in Bangladesh’s development journey.

She said, “In today’s world, opportunities for development financing are diminishing. This is an opportunity for Bangladesh to increase its domestic investment in the SDGs, by increasing the tax-to-GDP ratio and by encouraging the private sector to make SDG-aligned investments.”

Additional Secretary of ERD and Chair of the event AHM Jahangir stressed the need for a joined-up financing plan as Bangladesh prepares to graduate from LDC status.

Speaking for UNDP, Sonali Dayaratne, deputy resident representative, underscored the need for stronger financing policies and partnerships to close the funding gap.

“The financing gap to meet national development targets has further widened. The government can deploy public resources to leverage and derisk private investments. The challenge is 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 said.

Presenting the findings, Dr Selim Raihan, professor of Economics at the University of Dhaka, outlined Bangladesh's changing financing landscape and options for raising more money from public and private sources.

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He presented the $421 billion estimate for FY2026–FY2030, noting most of it will need 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 to discuss the findings of the two studies to better plan the financial roadmap to achieve the SDGs.

Feedback from the workshop will help finalise both the DFA and the financing strategy.