DHAKA, Oct 30, 2019 (BSS) -The government of Bangladesh today signed a $100 million financing agreement with the World Bank (WB) to ensure improved water supply, sanitation, and drainage system in selected 30 municipalities, benefiting about 600,000 people.
The loan agreement was signed by Economic Relations Division (ERD) Secretary Monowar Ahmed and World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan Mercy Tembon on behalf of the government of Bangladesh and the World Bank, respectively, at the ERD in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area.
The World Bank loan for the Municipal Water Supply and Sanitation Project will provide safe piped water to residents of selected municipalities those currently do not have piped water facilities.
The project will facilitate public private partnerships and help build infrastructures, including water treatment facility, water storage, transmission and distribution pipe network, connection to houses, meter installations as well as improved sanitation facilities in low income areas and slums.
“In the Sector Development Plan and the National Strategy for Water Supply and Sanitation, the government has aimed for 85 to 90 percent piped water supply coverage in municipalities by 2025,” said ERD Secretary Monowar Ahmed.
World Bank Country Director Mercy Tembon said, “Today, more and more people are living in cities, creating an urgent demand for quality urban infrastructures, including water and sanitation services,”
“This project will help the people living in small towns and the slums dwellers get piped water and improved sanitation and drainage services. With greater access to clean water, the women will have more time otherwise spent for collecting water; as well the health of their children will improve resulting in better school attendance. “she added.
To facilitate citizen’s feedback, the project will develop mobile apps IT enabled complaint redressal systems and annual citizen surveys.
The credit is from the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), has a 30-year term, including a five-year grace period, and carries a service charge of 0.75 percent and an interest of 1.25 percent.
The project also includes $100 million financing from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and $9.53 million financing from the government of Bangladesh.