Dhaka: Selected pourashavas in Bangladesh's coastal regions are experiencing heightened climate and disaster resilience, particularly benefiting the poor and women, thanks to the Coastal Towns Environmental Infrastructure Project (CTEIP). This initiative, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), has successfully enhanced municipal infrastructures to withstand climate impacts, strengthened institutional capacity, improved governance, and raised awareness among communities.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the CTEIP, which concluded in July 2024, significantly improved the well-being of residents in these coastal towns. A notable achievement of the project was the reduction in waterborne diseases by 76.7% and a decline in diarrhea-related hospital admissions to 2.1% by June 2022, compared to a baseline of 9.0% in 2011. Furthermore, climate-resilient infrastructures have created new employment opportunities, leading to a 30.9% increase in average household incomes.
The project, with a total cost of $103.39 million, was primarily funded by development partners, including the ADB Special Fund, The Gates Foundation, The Strategic Climate Fund, and the UCCRTF, while the Bangladesh government contributed $16.01 million. The initiative transformed Patuakhali Pourashava into a climate-resilient town, previously vulnerable to recurrent climate events like flooding and cyclones.
During a visit to Patuakhali Pourashava, ADB Country Director Hoe Yun Jeong emphasized the goal of transforming Patuakhali into a 'climate-resilient hub.' The project constructed 33.33 km of roads and 12.25 km of drains, using environmentally friendly materials like uniblock, made from river-bed sand. The infrastructure was designed with a 50-year perspective, with roads built above flood levels and separate lanes for cycling and walking.
The project also developed a drainage system master plan for Patuakhali Pourashava, significantly reducing water-logging and flooding. Improved public health, urban sanitation, and cleanliness have enhanced residents' quality of life, especially in vulnerable communities. Excavated canals and ponds now retain water year-round and aid in flood control.
CTEIP's impact extended beyond infrastructure, enhancing Patuakhali municipality's capacity to collect revenue, achieving a 95% collection rate. This increased revenue enables regular maintenance of infrastructures. The project also strengthened climate resilience and disaster preparedness across eight vulnerable coastal pourashavas in Bangladesh, adopting a holistic approach to urban development.
The Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), under the Local Government Division, executed the project, with ten municipalities as implementing agencies. The innovative design focused on performance-based allocation and sequential implementation, combining technological and community-centric approaches for climate change adaptation.
CTEIP responded to Bangladesh's request to address the high demand for climate-resilient infrastructures and disaster preparedness while strengthening institutional capacity in coastal pourashavas. These areas, home to populations between 15,000 and 60,000, face significant climate-related risks and governance challenges, necessitating strategic interventions to improve resilience and adaptive capacity.