ADB gives $135m in loans for sustainable water supply in Dhaka

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the government of Bangladesh on Tuesday signed agreements for $135 million in additional loans to improve access to and quality of inclusive water supply services and promote environmentally sustainable surface water supply in Dhaka.

Economic Relations Division (ERD) Secretary Fatima Yasmin and ADB Country Director Edimon Ginting signed the loan agreements in Dhaka on Tuesday, according to a statement from the ERD.

The assistance will provide additional support to the ongoing $674.9 million Dhaka Environmentally Sustainable Water Supply Project, which has $250 million contribution from ADB, $64 million from Agence Française de Développement, $136 million from the European Investment Bank, and the remaining $224.9 million from the Government of Bangladesh.

Edimon Ginting said, “The project supports the policies and strategies of Bangladesh and ADB for climate resilient urban development, more livable cities, green growth, and environmental sustainability.

“We will continue to focus on lowering nonrevenue water, transitioning to surface water sources, tariff rationalization, capacity development, protecting water intake rivers, and transformative empowerment of women and vulnerable groups to offer more efficient and quality water services in Bangladesh,” he added.