Published: 12:48 AM, 02 June 2026
Coast-Friendly Budget: To Sustain the State, the Coast Must Be Sustainable
Shafiqul Islam Khokon
Over time, the coast has become deeply familiar to people. The coast of Bangladesh is not just about the sea; it is simultaneously a story of struggle, potential, and survival. Millions of people in the southern region of the country fight every day against river erosion, salinity, cyclones, tidal surges, and uncertainty of livelihood. Yet, in discussions of the national budget, the coast often remains a footnote in statistics. The reality is that sustainable development is impossible without a separate perspective for coastal regions.
Every year cyclones strike, embankments collapse, crops are destroyed, and people lose their homes. After disasters, some relief, some promises, and some projects appear, but long-term security and economic stability are rarely established. As a result, coastal people are not only victims of disasters but also of budget inequality. A coast-friendly budget does not simply mean constructing a few cyclone shelters. It means the state will treat the coast not merely as a “disaster-prone area,” but as a “region of special realities.” The policymaking perspective in Dhaka is not the same as the realities of Patharghata, Shyamnagar, Kalapara, or Monpura.
One of the greatest crises in the coastal region is salinity. In many areas, safe drinking water has become a luxury. Women walk several kilometers carrying water. Farmers can no longer grow rice as they once did. Fish enclosures are increasing, but diversified agriculture is shrinking. Therefore, the budget must prioritize climate-resilient agriculture, rainwater harvesting, and freshwater projects.
Another major reality is river erosion. Thousands of coastal families lose their homes every year and migrate to cities. Yet river erosion has still not been placed at the center of national rehabilitation policy. The budget urgently needs a separate and permanent fund for river management, sustainable embankments, and rehabilitation.
The coastal economy is mainly dependent on agriculture and fisheries. But fishermen and farmers, despite facing the highest risks, receive the least protection. When bad weather prevents fishermen from going to sea, many families go hungry. Farmers receive loans on paper, but not in reality. Therefore, a coast-friendly budget should include easy-term loans, social protection, entrepreneurial support, and income protection programs during disasters.
Most importantly, decisions about the coast must include the voices of coastal people. Without participation from local governments, farmers, fishermen, women, and youth, no development can be sustainable. They understand the true impacts of disasters better than anyone else.
Every fiscal year, the national budget is presented in Parliament. Before the announcement, the government often says it will be a budget to protect people’s lives and livelihoods—a welfare-oriented budget. At the same time, people also have expectations and questions: What do ordinary people think about the budget? What do they expect from it? Is it truly people-friendly? Does it actually improve public welfare?
Each year these discussions arise, but how much thought is given specifically to a separate budget for coastal regions? How much attention do policymakers pay to it? Such questions naturally emerge. Yet no one truly thinks or speaks enough about marginalized communities, especially the coastal population.
If someone is asked, “What is a budget?” many people would reply, “We don’t understand budgets; we just hear the government presents one.” While some people understand budget concepts, most do not—especially in coastal regions. Simply put, a budget is a detailed estimate of all possible income and expenditures over one year.
A government budget is essentially a statement of a country’s projected income and expenditure for one fiscal year. In Bangladesh, the fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30. The budget reflects the government’s financial planning and political philosophy, while also portraying the state of the economy.
In a budget, not only are projected revenues and expenditures included, but also plans regarding deficits or surpluses. The government prepares the budget, presents it in Parliament, and after parliamentary approval and presidential consent, it becomes effective.
With the national budget approaching again, the question remains: who is thinking about the budget for coastal and marginalized populations? A few NGOs and writers raise the issue, but is there truly a specific allocation for coastal communities? While the government does work on disaster management, the issue is whether there is a dedicated allocation for the coast.
The fisheries sector alone contributes huge amounts of revenue to the government every year. There are also forest products like golpata and honey. Thousands of laborers work in fisheries and related sectors.
During the BNP government, the “Coastal Zone Policy 2005” was formulated. According to that policy, Bangladesh’s coastal belt stretches 710 kilometers along the Bay of Bengal. The coastal region is both crisis-prone and full of potential. It faces cyclones, tidal surges, floods, river erosion, arsenic contamination, waterlogging, salinity, pollution, and climate change risks. Despite these challenges, the region also holds enormous development opportunities. Fisheries, shrimp cultivation, forests, salt production, minerals, export processing zones, seaports, airports, land ports, tourism, and natural gas reserves all exist there. Many of these resources remain underutilized.
The coastal region also contains important ecosystems. Part of the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, has been declared a World Heritage Site. Saint Martin’s Island contains coral ecosystems. The Bay of Bengal is rich in fisheries resources. Because of growing population pressure, environmental degradation, and recurring disasters, integrated coastal management is essential. Various national policies and strategies—including the Poverty Reduction Strategy—have repeatedly emphasized coastal development. However, the key question remains: how much of these policies have actually been implemented? How much of the Coastal Zone Policy 2005 has become reality? How many coastal residents even know about it? If the policy was truly intended for the welfare of coastal people, then awareness and implementation should be greatly increased.
The coast continues to be deprived—not only in budget allocation but also in facilities and opportunities. Although discussions about a separate coastal budget have increased slightly in recent years, they are still not strong enough. Organizations such as Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Coast Foundation, CPRD, CDP, Sundarbans Protection Movement, Patharghata Coastal Protection Movement, BCJF, Udayan, Island Development Organization, and SDI have long demanded greater and separate allocations for the coast.
Climate budget allocations have gradually increased over the years but remain insufficient. Data from the Climate Financing Report show allocations of:
Tk 24,275.69 crore in FY 2020–21 (0.68% of GDP)
Tk 28,010 crore in FY 2021–22 (0.71% of GDP)
Tk 32,048 crore in FY 2022–23 (0.72% of GDP)
Tk 37,051 crore in FY 2023–24 (0.73% of GDP)
For FY 2025–26, the proposed climate allocation is Tk 41,208 crore for 25 ministries and divisions, only 0.67% of GDP—almost Tk 1,000 crore less than the current fiscal year.
Yet experts argue Bangladesh needs at least 3% of GDP for climate financing. Long-term adaptation plans like the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP 2009), Delta Plan 2100, and National Adaptation Plan require far greater funding.
Special emphasis in the budget should be placed on:
Sustainable embankment construction
Freshwater supply projects
Afforestation and environmental protection
River erosion and salinity management funds
Easy loans and subsidies for fishermen and farmers
Climate-resilient crops
Coastal roads, electricity, and healthcare
Rapid post-disaster rehabilitation
Mangrove conservation
Alternative employment and training for families of missing or deceased fishermen
Emergency air rescue systems for fishermen
Rehabilitation for erosion-affected landless people
These programs should ideally be coordinated through a dedicated “Ministry of Coastal Affairs.”
We hope the upcoming budget will increase allocations for coastal fishermen’s rights, rivers, wetlands, water resources, food production, embankment protection, salinity reduction, and social safety programs. But sustainable development also requires protecting ecosystems and biodiversity.
Bangladesh’s budget process has largely remained bureaucratic over the past 55 years. Economists and ministries prepare it, but political parties and civil society have limited participation. Discussions occur every year, yet meaningful changes rarely follow.
Therefore, discussions about coastal budgets should continue year-round, not only during budget season. Since local governments collect taxes from coastal regions, development should also proportionately benefit those areas.
Finally, just as a family requires skilled management and financial planning to survive, a state also needs planned and sustainable expenditure. A building stands secure because of its surrounding walls; similarly, the coast is one of the protective walls of Bangladesh. If the coast is not sustainable, neither the coast nor the state itself can survive. The coastal region comprises 19 districts, whose people have long remained neglected. Beyond budget allocations, Bangladesh now urgently needs long-term coastal policies, a Coastal Development Board, and a dedicated Coastal Ministry. Today Bangladesh is an important name in global climate discussions. But more important than speeches at international conferences is ensuring security for coastal people through the national budget. If coastal communities remain unsafe behind impressive development indicators, that development can never be complete.
Shafiqul Islam Khokon is a
journalist, columnist and
a researcher.
