The World Bank is working closely with other donors to assist the Government of Bangladesh to provide a better urban environment for its citizens through improved water supply, sanitation and drainage services. A World Bank mission recently visited Bangladesh to examine preparations for the proposed Dhaka Chittagong Urban Flood Mitigation and Sanitation Improvement Project. It also discussed short term measures to help Dhaka cope with the upcoming monsoons.
The proposed Dhaka Chittagong Urban Flood Mitigation and Sanitation Improvement Project supports the Government’s goal of Sanitation for All by 2010. The project is expected to include the provision of water and sanitation services to low income communities. It will also improve Dhaka’s storm water drainage systems and pumping stations in order to alleviate serious flooding and water logging in the capital.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), are preparing projects with Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authority (DWASA) and Chittagong Water and Sewerage Authority (CWASA) All donors are coordinating their interventions to support the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and Cooperative (LG&RDC) to provide an integrated program of support to the urban water supply and sanitation sector.
The Government signed a Project Preparation Facility (PPF) in 2005 to undertake the preparatory works for the project. These include detailed technical designs, a performance improvement program for DWASA, preparation of master plans for CWASA and a social and environmental management framework.
During its visit the mission suggested to the Government that it undertake an emergency program with additional short term measures to prepare Dhaka for the upcoming monsoons. This would involve identifying priority sites within Dhaka that are likely to affect the city’s storm water drainage, and to ensure coordinated efforts between DWASA, Dhaka City Corporation and the residents in those areas.
June 2006
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Contacts:
Rezwan-ul-Alam (8802) 815-9015, Ext 4242,     E-mail: salam3@worldbank.org
For more information on the World Bank in Bangladesh, please visit:
www.worldbank.org.bd & www.worldbank.org
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