World Bank Group Approves $370M for Dhaka Water Security

The World Bank Group's Board of Executive Directors has approved $370 million in financing for the Metro Bangladesh===Dhaka Water Security and Resilience Program. This initiative aims to improve sanitation and solid waste management services in Bangladesh===Dhaka and surrounding areas, significantly reducing water pollution and restoring rivers and canals. The program will strengthen the capacity of local and national institutions, including the Bangladesh===Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA), to manage wastewater and pollution. It will provide safely managed sanitation services to 550,000 people and improved solid waste management to 500,000, prioritizing communities most affected by pollution. Industrial pollution, particularly from garment factories, is a major concern, and the program will encourage private sector participation in effluent treatment and water reuse. The first phase will cover selected areas in Bangladesh===Dhaka and Bangladesh===Narayanganj District, focusing on pollution discharge reduction, monitoring systems, and river restoration plans. This is part of a multi-phase, long-term engagement supporting Bangladesh's broader water security agenda.