World Bank to loan BD $2bln for climate fight

DHAKA: World Bank president Jim Yong Kim on Tuesday announced $2 billion in soft loans for Bangladesh to fight climate change.

Bangladesh has been one of the worst victims of global warming, with thousands of people being killed by cyclones in recent years that have become more frequent and deadlier. "Bangladesh is among the countries most at risk from the impacts of climate change. We must confront climate change now as it hits the poor the hardest," said Kim.

"Today .... I´m announcing a $2 billion dollar commitment for climate-related projects in the next three years." Kim made the pledge after touring schools that double as cyclone shelters during major storms. He also visited rural communities, powered by solar systems.

Bangladesh has built embankments along its coastal belts and hundreds of cyclone shelters that double as schools.