Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday asked international donors to pump in an estimated $1 billion to assist in a massive long-term plan to protect the coastal areas from recurring natural disasters and climate changes, or risk undermining Bangladesh’s development.

Endorsing the chief adviser’s proposals, the donors pledged their commitment to the project but asked the government to ensure the framework required for the massive logistical and coordination challenge.

At a meeting with bilateral and multilateral donors in his office, the chief adviser said the country can no longer afford to count on relief and rehabilitation and wait for the next natural disaster, adding, “After two consecutive floods during the monsoon and then Cyclone Sidr, we need a reawakening and new resolve to shape our destiny.”

“We believe that the time has come for us to take a long-term view of Bangladesh’s frequent trysts with nature’s whims,” Fakhruddin said, adding, “We must be ambitious in our approach and firm in our resolve in thinking of a large-scale, long-term solution to contain the fury of Mother Nature on a sustainable basis.”

Citing years of development gains lost to natural disasters like Cyclone Sidr, Fakhruddin feared the Millennium Development Goals will become a ‘mirage’ if money and attention is not devoted to reducing the country’s environmental vulnerability, made worse by the global climate change.

“Strong international support is necessary to help us meet our environmental challenges,” he said, adding that rehabilitating Sidr survivors is not enough, “We need to pre-empt and prevent disasters, not just react to them.”

The ‘rough estimate’ of $1 billion comprises the cost of building road networks worth $300 million, $200 million for 2,000 new cyclone shelters, $250 million for repairing and making new embankments, $150 million for forestation of the Sundarbans, and $100 million for rebuilding schools.

The donors, in their response, stressed the need for ensuring best practices learned from post-disaster rehabilitation efforts, especially from the previous cyclones and floods, according to a western diplomat who was at the meeting.

The diplomat said the donors discussed the enormous difficulties associated with the funding and logistics of building more cyclone shelters, extending embankments, and improving early warning signals.

But, most donors said they are ‘positive’ about the ambitious proposal and are confident of coming through with the funds after a period of hammering out the details.

“It is up to the donors to maintain the momentum but the government needs to put in place the framework,” said the diplomat, adding that the massive project would require a very well coordinated tight-knit partnership.

The donors also discussed their particular concerns regarding funding procedures, procurement and government regulations, that they feel need to be sorted out, said another diplomat from a major Asian donor country.

But, some heads of missions, of both western countries and multilateral lending agencies, feel that the caretaker government needs to be more careful because of its short tenure, especially as the donors feel the project would compel the government to make some tough decisions.

Explaining the plan, Fakhruddin said the coastal belt’s transformation requires infrastructural improvements, such as building and upgrading roads and bridges in southern Bangladesh at the cost of $300 million. He said he believes that would also create jobs in the region in the long-term, spurring economic activities in the impoverished south.

The chief adviser also tabled a comprehensive disaster preparedness plan that would incorporate lessons learned from the recent cyclone.

He estimates that $250 million is needed to build 2,000 multipurpose shelters to provide refuge for both people and livestock during cyclones.

The chief adviser also noted a need for an extension of embankment networks to protect the coastline, which could also be used as coastal highways and evacuation routes. The project is expected to cost around $250 million.

The donors, in their response, particularly endorsed the disaster preparedness proposals as they believe not enough shelters were in place to deal with Cyclone Sidr, according to a senior official from a multilateral lending agency.

Restoring and protecting the Sundarbans are also a priority for the government, he said adding that a large-scale forestation programme, estimated around $150 million, is essential to preserve the bio-diversity of the world heritage site.