Bangladesh to get $200 million from World Bank for ensuring safe water and sanitation

The World Bank today signed a $200 million financing agreement with Bangladesh government to help 3.6 million people access hygienic sanitation facilities and about 600,000 people access clean water in rural areas of the country.

The agreement was signed by Fatima Yasmin, secretary, Economic Relations Division of Bangladesh government, and Mercy Tembon, World Bank country director for Bangladesh and Bhutan. "Safe water, sanitation, and hygiene practices are key for ensuring better health and building human capital," said Mercy Tembon. 

The Rural Water, Sanitation, Hygiene (WASH) for Human Capital Development project will help improve water and sanitation services in rural areas in 78 upazilas, covering Sylhet, Chattogram, Rangpur, and Mymensingh divisions, said a press release of World Bank. 

It will provide microcredits to both the households and entrepreneurs for water and sanitation facilities. About 309,000 of the poorest households will receive fully subsidized toilets. Besides the household water connections, it will construct around 3,000 community piped water schemes.

The project will install about 312 public toilets and 2,514 hand-washing stations at crowded public places, such as markets and bus stations. About 1,280 community clinics will have new or renovated facilities, both for patients and medical purposes. The project, in a quick and timely manner, will also help address urgent water and sanitation needs arising from Covid-19 pandemic.