The World Bank announced on Saturday that the funding will assist rural communities in reducing poverty and creating new job opportunities. The funds will also support local communities in Cox's Bazar who are hosting Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. Qimiao Fan, the World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal, stated that these projects aim to uplift rural populations and help the vulnerable escape poverty. Additionally, the projects will enhance the country's ability to withstand climate change. The $175 million Sustainable Forests & Livelihoods Project, as per the World Bank, will enhance forest cover through collaborative forest management involving local communities. This project will involve planting trees in around 79,000 hectares of forest, including a coastal green belt to bolster climate change resilience. The project, according to Madhavi Pillai, a World Bank Senior Natural Resources Management Specialist, aims to increase income for approximately 40,000 households in various districts of Bangladesh including Cox's Bazar, which is currently housing a large number of Rohingya refugees. The project will focus on developing and implementing protected area management plans for 10 Protected Forest Areas with the participation of local community members. The World Bank's $240 million Sustainable Coastal and Marine Fisheries Project is expected to enhance fisheries management, promote mariculture, and improve aquaculture biosecurity and productivity in 10 coastal districts. Additionally, the project will provide support for female workers through alternative livelihoods, skills training, and nutrition education. Overall, the project aims to enhance fisheries management systems, infrastructure, and value chain investments. Milen Dyoulgerov, a World Bank Senior Environment Specialist and Task Team Leader for the project, stated that this will lead to increased productivity and availability of fish. The $100 million additional funding for the Second Rural Transport Improvement Project will be used to repair rural roads in 26 districts that were damaged by heavy rainfall and floods last year. The project has already improved and fixed over 5,000 km of rural roads, providing access to markets, hospitals, and schools for millions of people. The funding will prioritize climate-resilience in the planning, design, implementation, and maintenance of the roads.