As one of the largest and the most disaster-prone populous deltas in the world, Bangladesh, is especially vulnerable to climate change consequences. Shakti's Climate Change Program is relentlessly addressing the nation’s urgent need through highly impactful climate-smart and resilient initiatives.
First in Bangladesh Air pollution Awareness Campaign. On October 31, 2023, Shakti Foundation launched a groundbreaking awareness billboard titled "Save Your Breath—Shakti for Clean Air."
The billboard features artificial lungs that simulate breathing and demonstrate the impact of ambient air on healthy lungs. A real-time air quality index is also displayed on the billboard, revealing pollution effects over the past 21 days. As more air pollutants were trapped, the lungs changed color—from chalk white to muddy brown to inky black. The initiative aims to educate the masses about community-level pollutants and advocate for policy changes to improve air quality.
Current AQI in Dhaka
By reimagining abandoned, forsaken areas into green centers of life and recreation, Shakti aims to weave sustainability and resilience into our communities. All our green interventions are being preserved with a comprehensive plant healthcare strategy, onsite watering system, and a dedicated maintenance team in alignment with SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 13: Climate Action and SDG 15: Life on Land.
Shakti, in collaboration with DNCC and MetLife Foundation, has initiated the Muktir Shobujayon (Greening for Liberation) Project with the aim of transforming the abandoned land opposite the Jallad Khana Memorial Site into a modern, green and child-friendly public space. This is community-based adaptation strategy is contributing towards improving the air quality of Dhaka, a pressing problem faced by our urban areas.
The Jallad Khana Killing Field in Mirpur-10, Dhaka is intertwined with the history of the Bangladesh's Liberation War. Previously considered a hub for drug related activities, DNCC, in collaboration with Shakti Foundation and MetLife Foundation, has transformed this forsaken lot beside the Memorial Site with a greening project of 1,875 fruit, medicinal and ornamental plants as well as a vertical garden. Children’s play equipment has been renewed and the concrete playground has been replaced by Mexican turf grass to ensure safety and dust control. In addition, Jallad Khana Garbage Secondary Transfer Station (STS), a malodorous and unsightly dumping ground, has been given a fresh makeover by renowned Cartoonist Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy and his team at Tanmoy Cartoons.
The Muktir Shobujayon Project was formally inaugurated on the Independence Day, 26th March, 2023 by chief guest, the Honorable Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mr. Md. Atiqul Islam. Special Assistant to the Honorable Prime Minister Barrister Biplab Barua, Chief Executive Officer of MetLife Bangladesh Mr. Ala Ahmad and Deputy Executive Director of Shakti Foundation Mr. Imran Ahmed were present on the occasion.
This Project aims to integrate green infrastructure concepts in the heart of Dhaka City. The importance of this stems far beyond beautification: there is no better alternative to planting trees to protect our climate, health and ecosystems.
Road medians from Army Stadium to Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue of Dhaka City are undergoing substantial enhancements with the introduction of over sixteen thousand plants. In addition to beautifying its surroundings, these plants will capture harmful carbon dioxide from vehicle emissions. Furthermore, increasing tree cover will contribute to reducing the urban heat-island effect by shading impervious surfaces.
In collaboration with DNCC and MetLife Foundation, our enthusiastic team has been working day and night to transform the underutilized roadway medians. Work included removing accumulated trash and dust, pruning existing plants, installing fencing and fixing damaged medians. The landscape work entailed the correct selection and timely plantation of functional, aesthetic, and sustainable trees. These perennial plants also maximize absorption of stormwater thus reducing chronic neighborhood flooding during peak monsoon season. Additionally, graffiti art has been commissioned for the concrete road dividers to reduce heat absorption and further enhance the aesthetic value of the surrounding area.
One of the main causes of global warming is deforestation. The lack of trees in urbanized areas, alongside Dhaka’s rapidly growing population is giving rise to extreme heat levels. In this regard, Shakti Foundation in collaboration with Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and HSBC Bank, has undertaken The Nature Based Solution Project at Ramchandrapur Khal in Lautola Bosila, Mohammadpur.
Ramchandrapur Khal at Lautola Bosila, Mohammadpur was part of a large canal system connected to Turag /Buriganga River at different points. In recent times, it had been taken over by an illegal truck terminal and several auto repair shops. Shakti has transformed the urban blight into a rich urban forest boasting a biodiversity of sixty-seven varieties of trees, herbs, shrubs and climbers. The Ramchandrapur Khal aka Lautola Khal has been painstakingly retrieved from the occupied land and embellished by over seven thousand fruit, medicinal and ornamental plants on either side.
The Project was formally inaugurated on National Mourning Day, 15 August, 2022 by chief guest, the Honorable Mayor of DNCC Mr. Md. Atiqul Islam. Deputy Executive Director of Shakti Foundation Mr. Imran Ahmed and CEO of HSBC Bank Mr. Md. Mahbub-ur-Rahman, CEO of DNCC Zone-5 Mr. Mokabbir Hossain and Councilor Ward 31, Mr. Asif Ahmed were present on the occasion.
Shakti started its renewable energy journey in 2010 with the aim of providing solar power options to off-grid districts in remote areas of Bangladesh. Households were offered a convenient payment scheme for the installation of Solar Home Systems, alongside training on proper equipment use and maintenance. Currently, the Solar Initiative has sales centers in 6 upazilas (Terokhada, Goalanda, Saltha, Nagarpur, Sapahar and Sariakandi) and the following active solar energy systems:
Action Research Project On Selling Electricity From SHS To National Grid
Action Research Project on Selling Electricity from SHS to National Grid: SOLshare has recently joined hands with Shakti to launch a pathbreaking action research initiative in the renewable energy sector. Through P2P technology, users could trade the excess energy in their respective systems with their local community for a given price. But now, by way of a single point called the “Point of Common Coupling” (PCC), this initiative would allow users to go one step further and sell the excess solar energy to the national grid as an added income source. The PCC integrates Bangladesh's two major electrification efforts – grid extension and SHS dissemination. The Rural Electrification Board (REB) grid is connected to one side of the PCC, while the local electrical grid from the SHS is connected to the other side so the excess energy can be easily transferred. This initiative not only explores the feasibility of creating financial opportunities for microentrepreneurs and marginalized communities but also supports the self-sustainability push against power outages and service disruptions. Shakti Foundation, with the funding from FCDO, is implementing this research pilot project under the regulatory sandbox in Dhobaura Upazila of Mymensingh district.
Closing the energy access gap via nearly 60,000 solar energy systems
Improving resilience to climate-related hazards through green space interventions
Encouraging ecofriendly entrepreneurship
Committed to developing meaningful adaption, mitigation and climate impact reduction initiatives
Creating Green Public Spaces as centers of social life