DHAKA, July 24, 2026 - The Government of Bangladesh and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have signed an agreement to implement a €1.125 million European Union-funded project aimed at strengthening climate-related migration management, enhancing institutional capacity, and promoting regional cooperation across South Asia.
The three-year project, titled “Advancing an Integrated Approach to Climate-Related Migration in South Asian Countries,” will be implemented under an agreement signed between the Economic Relations Division (ERD) of the Ministry of Finance and IOM Bangladesh.
The agreement was signed by ERD Secretary Mohammad Shahriar Kader Siddiky and Dr. Laura Tomm-Bonde, Chief of Mission of IOM Bangladesh.
The project seeks to strengthen data and information management on climate-related migration, expand research and knowledge-sharing, promote diaspora engagement in climate action, enhance the resilience of vulnerable communities, and foster regional cooperation among South Asian countries to address climate-induced displacement and migration.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, ERD Secretary Mohammad Shahriar Kader Siddiky said the Bangladesh government attaches growing importance to addressing the complex challenges of climate-induced human mobility. He stressed the need to integrate climate-related migration into national development planning, disaster risk reduction, and climate adaptation strategies to strengthen community resilience and protect vulnerable populations.
He also commended IOM for its continued support in improving migration governance, generating evidence-based data for policymaking, assisting vulnerable communities, and promoting safe, orderly, and regular migration in line with Bangladesh’s national development priorities.
The ERD Secretary expressed confidence that the new initiative would further strengthen institutional capacity, improve knowledge and information systems, support evidence-based policymaking, and deepen regional cooperation on climate-related migration in South Asia.
IOM Bangladesh Chief of Mission Dr. Laura Tomm-Bonde thanked the Government of Bangladesh, particularly the Economic Relations Division, for its continued partnership. She also acknowledged the guidance and support of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and expressed gratitude to the European Union for its generous financial assistance to the project. She further appreciated the continued engagement of the relevant ministries, government agencies, and development partners.
Both the Government of Bangladesh and IOM reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening the country’s capacity to address the challenges of climate-related migration. They expressed optimism that the project would not only advance Bangladesh’s climate mobility agenda but also create new opportunities for regional learning, knowledge exchange, and cooperation across South Asia.
Among those present at the signing ceremony were AKM Sohel, Additional Secretary and Head of the UN Wing at the ERD; Dr. Kazi Shahjahan, Joint Secretary of the ERD; Fahmida Haque Khan, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Md. Rajibul Alam, Senior Assistant Secretary of the ERD; Ashfakur Rahman Khan, National Programme Officer of IOM Bangladesh; Dr. S.M. Morshed, Government Liaison Specialist at IOM; along with representatives from relevant ministries, government agencies, and partner organizations.
