Experts have called for urgent expansion of climate insurance coverage for marginal communities in Bangladesh's coastal regions, arguing that vulnerable households cannot cope with rising climate shocks without financial protection.
They say the government should bear the insurance premiums to shield poor families from repeated losses.
They also stressed that such funding should come from international climate finance, noting that developed countries have long pledged support to climate-vulnerable nations like Bangladesh but have largely failed to deliver adequate compensation.
These issues were discussed at a divisional roundtable on a pro-poor, gender-sensitive and human rights-based Climate and Disaster Risk Finance and Insurance (CDRFI) process for coastal regions.
AOSED (An Organisation for Socio-Economic Development) with support from CARE Bangladesh organised the event at a hotel in Khulna on Saturday.
AOSED implemented the Multi-Actor Partnerships on Climate and Disaster Risk Finance and Insurance (MAP CDRFI) project in Bagerhat and Satkhira districts from April 2023 to March 2026, with financial support from BMZ and technical support from CARE Bangladesh.
AOSED Executive Director Shamim Arfeen said developed countries have been promising financial and technological support to climate-affected nations since 1995.
They also committed to reducing carbon emissions. However, emissions have instead increased by 34.4 per cent over this period.
Moreover, instead of providing compensation, these countries are pushing nations like Bangladesh into debt through various mechanisms.
He said the government should make strong preparations for upcoming global climate negotiations, including the Bonn Climate Conference in Germany and COP31 in Turkey, to secure favourable funding through effective negotiations with developed countries.
Shamim Arfeen said that since climate insurance is now essential to address climate losses, insurance companies should introduce user-friendly systems for marginal communities.
At the same time, the government must bear the premium costs and secure funds from global climate financing sources, he added.
Khulna City Corporation Administrator Nazrul Islam Monju said political parties lack dedicated platforms to discuss climate issues.
He noted that elected representatives often neglect such important matters once in power. He added that these issues were largely ignored during the previous government.
He said the current government is democratic and assured that he would raise these concerns with the Prime Minister and relevant authorities.
Khulna Zila Parishad Administrator SM Monirul Hasan (Bappi) said he has witnessed the severe suffering of climate-affected people and stressed the need to ensure protection of crops, families and access to safe drinking water so they can lead normal lives.
Professor Anwarul Kadir, Chief Executive of Sundarbans Academy, said that despite long efforts, no effective solution on climate insurance has been reached because the focus remains on making policies profitable rather than people-oriented.
Khulna University Professor Sharif Hasan Limon said having a strong database is crucial to accessing climate funds. He emphasised the need to collect data at both national and local levels.
Professor Dr Nazia Hasan said a comprehensive, long-term and research-based master plan is needed to tackle climate impacts.
Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Khulna, agriculturist Md Nazrul Islam, said efforts are underway to diversify crops in coastal areas, including watermelon and sunflower cultivation.
However, this remains highly challenging and requires more financial and technical support, he said.
Assistant General Manager of Sadharon Bima Corporation, Khulna, Bishwajit Kar, said climate insurance is currently the only effective way to reduce the suffering of affected people.
NGO representative from Satkhira, Ashik E Ilahi, said corruption is a major issue, which has created mistrust among people regarding insurance.
CARE Bangladesh Technical Coordinator Himadri Shekhar Mondal said climate finance models are changing rapidly, making it difficult to distinguish between grants, loans and the business interests of developed countries.
Others who spoke at the event included Professor Dr Tushar Kanti Roy of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology, Biplob Kumar Basak, Director of the Department of Fisheries in Khulna, SA Rashid, President of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (Khulna district), AOSED Deputy Director Helen Khatun, Financial Express Senior Staff Reporter Yasir Wardad, and CCJEB Senior Research Fellow Moumita Das Gupta, among others.
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