The World Bank announced on Saturday that the funding will benefit rural communities by reducing poverty and creating new job opportunities. It will also assist the local communities in Cox’s Bazar that are hosting Rohingya refugees who have escaped violence in Myanmar. World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal, Qimiao Fan, stated that these projects will provide opportunities for rural residents and help vulnerable individuals lift themselves out of poverty, while also enhancing the country's ability to withstand the effects of climate change. The Sustainable Forests & Livelihoods Project, worth $175 million, aims to increase forest cover through collaborative management involving local communities, with plans to plant trees in approximately 79,000 hectares of forest, including a coastal green belt to bolster climate change resilience. Madhavi Pillai, a Senior Natural Resources Management Specialist at the World Bank, stated that the project aims to increase income for approximately 40,000 households in various districts of Bangladesh, including Cox's Bazar where many Rohingya refugees have sought shelter. The project will work on developing and implementing protected area management plans for 10 Protected Forest Areas with community involvement. The $240 million Sustainable Coastal and Marine Fisheries Project by the World Bank will focus on improving fisheries management, expanding mariculture, and enhancing aquaculture biosecurity and productivity in 10 coastal districts. Additionally, the project will provide support for female workers through alternative livelihoods, skills development, and nutrition awareness, aiming to improve 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 the $100 million additional financing for the Second Rural Transport Improvement Project will lead to enhanced productivity and availability of fish. This funding will be used to repair rural roads in 26 districts that were damaged by heavy rainfall and floods last year. The ongoing project has already improved and fixed over 5,000 km of rural roads, allowing millions of people to reach markets, hospitals, and schools. The financing will prioritize climate-resilience in the planning, design, implementation, and upkeep of the roads.