Dhaka: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is preparing to invest approximately $300 million in Bangladesh by 2027, targeting improvements in water supply, sanitation, and city region development. This initiative is part of ADB’s ongoing commitment to enhance the infrastructure in Bangladesh’s urban areas.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, an official from the Economic Relations Division (ERD) revealed that ADB has earmarked $150 million for the Cluster Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Project. The Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) will oversee this project, which aims to address water supply, sanitation, and solid waste management in 22 coastal towns. A feasibility study is underway to assess the current infrastructure, focusing on water sources, treatment facilities, distribution networks, and sanitation systems.
Additionally, ADB plans to allocate another $150 million for the Third City Region Development Project in 2027. The Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) will execute this project, targeting the Mymensingh City Region (MCR) and Rajshahi City Region (RCR) to transform them into economic counter-magnets. The project will support sustainable urban drainage systems, civic and economic infrastructure, innovative financing instruments, and capacity building for municipal bodies to enhance climate resilience, urban planning, and service delivery.
The project will also prepare comprehensive city region plans (CCRP) for MCR and RCR, integrating regional connectivity, economic planning, and natural capital management to boost productivity and economic spillover effects.
ADB Country Director Hoe Yun Jeong, during a tour of ADB-funded project sites in Patuakhali Pourashava and Chalna Pourashava, stated that the city region development scheme is in its second phase, with discussions ongoing regarding the third phase’s geographical scope and sub-projects.
ERD data shows that ADB, the second-largest multilateral development partner for Bangladesh, provided $2.52 billion in the last fiscal year and committed $2.0 billion in assistance. Currently, ADB’s portfolio in Bangladesh includes 51 ongoing projects totaling approximately $11.8 billion. Since 1973, ADB has supported Bangladesh with $33.951 billion in loans and $571.2 million in grants across various sectors, including power, energy, local government, and water resources.