by Friendship News Desk,
29 October, 2025
City Bank and Friendship SPO signed an agreement today, 29 October, at a ceremony at the City Bank Centre in Gulshan, Dhaka. The bank and the social purpose organisation have entered into a partnership to launch a large-scale mangrove afforestation initiative aimed at enhancing climate resilience and environmental sustainability in the southern coastal areas of Bangladesh. The agreement will mark the beginning of a five-year collaboration, though Friendship already has an extant mangrove afforestation project with 650,000 trees across the 221 hectares.
Under this additional initiative, 25 hectares of land in Paikgacha subdistrict in Khulna will be afforested with 75,000 mangrove trees, directly contributing to coastal protection, biodiversity restoration, and carbon sequestration. The project also aims to enhance the livelihoods of vulnerable coastal communities through nature-based solutions, including beekeeping, crab and shrimp farming, and environmental stewardship.
Friendship will implement the project in close collaboration with local communities and the Forest Department. Twenty community groups will be formed—prioritising women and vulnerable households—to manage nurseries, plant and care for the mangroves, and maintain the sites long term. This participatory approach ensures both environmental and social sustainability, fostering a sense of ownership and stewardship among the people most affected by climate change.
This partnership highlights the growing commitment of Bangladesh’s private sector to climate adaptation and sustainable development, aligning with national and global goals to build resilience against the escalating impacts of climate change.
Runa Khan, Founder, Friendship countersigned the document, stating, “Each mangrove tree planted by Friendship is a step towards protecting our shoreline, embankments and people who live with the uncertainty of tidal movements, cyclones and salinity. Our partnership with City Bank is not only about restoring ecosystems. It is about restoring dignity, rebuilding livelihoods and bringing hope to those long left behind at the edge of survival.”
From City Bank PLC’s side, the agreement was signed by Mashrur Arefin, Managing Director & CEO of City Bank PLC, who stated, “Friendship has been doing remarkable work for years in some of the most climate-vulnerable areas of Bangladesh, bringing real change to the lives of coastal communities. And as the No. 1 Sustainable Bank of the country, City Bank is also deeply committed to addressing environmental challenges and promoting climate resilience. Therefore, we are truly delighted to collaborate with such a dedicated organisation on this important initiative. Through this partnership, we hope to contribute to protecting our coasts, restoring vital ecosystems, and creating sustainable livelihoods for coastal communities.”
Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman, Additional Managing Director & CFO, Mahia Juned, Additional Managing Director & COO, Kazi Azizur Rahman, Additional Managing Director & CIO, Shahriar Jamil Khan, Head of Brand & Marketing, from City Bank, along with Muhammed Shameem Reza, Senior Director, Legal & CFO and Md. Bodiuzzaman, Assistant Director – Climate Action from Friendship and other senior officials from both organisations were also present at the event.
