The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved $370 million in financing to improve sanitation and solid waste management, aiming to reduce water pollution and restore rivers and canals in Dhaka and surrounding areas.
The Metro Dhaka Water Security and Resilience Programme will strengthen the capacity of local and national institutions to tackle water pollution in the greater Dhaka area, which accounts for roughly half of Bangladesh’s formal employment and one-third of its GDP.
The programme introduces a results-based system to help city corporations and the Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) deliver measurable improvements on the ground.
It will provide safely managed sanitation services to 5.50 lakh people and enhanced solid waste management to 5 lakh residents, prioritising communities most affected by pollution and service gaps, according to a World Bank press release.
“Water bodies are the lifeline for millions in greater Dhaka. But rapid, unplanned urbanisation and industrial growth have outpaced the city’s capacity to manage wastewater and pollution, affecting public health, the environment and the economy,” said World Bank Division Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan Jean Pesme.
“This programme will help build the institutional foundations needed to reduce pollution and restore the health of Dhaka’s rivers and canals over time,” Jean Pesme added.
Dhaka faces severe wastewater and water pollution challenges. Only about 20 per cent of residents are connected to piped sewer systems, while just 2 per cent use functional fecal sludge management. Over 80 per cent of untreated wastewater is discharged directly into the city’s waterways, and more than half of Dhaka’s canals have disappeared or are clogged, worsening pollution.
Industrial pollution is also a major concern. About 80 per cent of the country’s export-oriented garment factories are located in Dhaka, with more than 7,000 factories releasing an estimated 2,400 million litres of untreated wastewater daily, causing skin, diarrheal and neurological diseases.
The programme takes a holistic approach, engaging public and private sectors along with city corporations. It will improve service delivery, strengthen regulatory frameworks, and restore rivers and canals by reducing pollution and enhancing flow capacity.
Private sector participation will be encouraged, particularly from industries around Dhaka, to invest in effluent treatment and water reuse, improving efficiency and reducing environmental impact.
“This programme is part of a multi-phase, long-term engagement supporting Bangladesh’s broader water security and resilience agenda,” said World Bank Senior Water Supply and Sanitation Specialist and Task Team Leader Harsh Goyal.
Harsh Goyal said, “This phase will focus on reducing pollution discharge into Dhaka’s water bodies, strengthening monitoring systems, including a comprehensive water quality index for Dhaka’s rivers, establishing digital real-time pollution monitoring and developing integrated river restoration plans for four major rivers.”
The first phase will cover selected areas of Dhaka and Narayanganj. It aims to expand primary waste collection, particularly in underserved communities near major canals and rivers, and to upgrade recycling systems. Community-led awareness campaigns and enforcement actions will also target illegal dumping, direct sewage discharge and industrial effluent release.
Since Bangladesh’s independence, the World Bank has committed over $46 billion in grants and concessional credits to the country, with ongoing commitments exceeding $12 billion in 43 active projects.
.jpg "Bangladesh records 4 more measles-related deaths in past 24 hours")
