The World Bank has approved a $370 million (approximately over 4,000 crore BDT) loan to bolster water security, curb rampant pollution, and overhaul sanitation systems in Dhaka and its surrounding areas.
The financing was cleared during a meeting of the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors at its headquarters in Washington, D.C., as confirmed by the bank’s Dhaka office on Wednesday.
Revitalizing Dhaka’s “Lifelines”
The funding will support the “Metro Dhaka Water Security and Resilience” program. This initiative aims to strengthen the operational capacities of various City Corporations and the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA). The primary goal is to reduce the pollution of rivers and canals, restoring their navigability and natural flow.
According to the World Bank, the project is expected to provide:
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Improved sanitation facilities for approximately 550,000 residents.
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Enhanced waste management services for 500,000 people.
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Priority interventions in highly polluted and underserved areas.
“The water bodies are the lifelines for millions in Dhaka,” said Abdoulaye Seck, World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan. “However, rapid and unplanned urbanization has led to a collapse in waste management, adversely affecting public health and the economy. This project will build the institutional foundation to restore the health of Dhaka’s rivers and canals.”
The Scale of the Crisis
The World Bank report highlights a grim reality for the capital’s infrastructure:
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Coverage: Only 20% of Dhaka’s residents are connected to a piped sewerage system.
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Pollution: Over 80% of untreated sewage is discharged directly into the city’s water bodies and rivers.
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Encroachment: More than half of Dhaka’s original canals have either disappeared or are currently clogged with solid waste.
The industrial impact is equally severe. With 80% of Bangladesh’s export-oriented garment factories located in and around Dhaka, nearly 7,000 factories discharge 2,400 million liters of untreated waste into rivers daily. This has led to a surge in skin diseases, diarrhea, and complex neurological issues among the population.
A Tech-Driven, Long-Term Strategy
The program is designed as part of a multi-phase, long-term plan. Harsh Goyal, Senior Water Specialist and Task Team Leader at the World Bank, noted that the first phase will concentrate on specific zones within Dhaka and Narayanganj.
Key features of the project include:
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Digital Real-time Monitoring: Implementation of advanced systems to monitor river water quality constantly.
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Industrial Integration: Engaging the private sector to improve Effluent Treatment Plants (ETP) and promote water recycling.
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Modernizing Waste Collection: Upgrading primary waste collection and recycling methods.
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Public Awareness: Launching campaigns to discourage citizens from dumping waste directly into drains or rivers.
This initiative marks a significant step toward transforming Dhaka into a more resilient and livable megacity by addressing the environmental degradation that threatens its future growth.
