The World Bank announced on Saturday that the funding will benefit rural communities by 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. World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal, Qimiao Fan, stated that these projects will help rural populations and vulnerable individuals escape poverty while also enhancing the country's ability to withstand climate change. The Sustainable Forests & Livelihoods Project, which will receive $175 million, aims to increase forest cover through collaborative forest management with local communities, planting trees in 79,000 hectares of forest, including a coastal green belt to improve climate change resilience. Madhavi Pillai, a World Bank Senior Natural Resources Management Specialist, 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 focus on developing and implementing protected area management plans for 10 Protected Forest Areas, with the participation of community members. The $240 million Sustainable Coastal and Marine Fisheries Project by the World Bank will enhance fisheries management, promote mariculture, and improve aquaculture biosecurity and productivity in 10 coastal districts. Additionally, the project will support female workers through alternative livelihoods, skills development, and nutrition awareness, ultimately improving 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 assist in repairing rural roads in 26 districts that were affected by heavy rainfall and floods last year. The current project has already fixed over 5,000 km of rural roads, benefiting millions of people by providing access to markets, hospitals, and schools. The funding will prioritize climate-resilience in the planning, design, implementation, and maintenance of the roads.