Bangladesh and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Monday signed agreements worth more than $334 million to boost power, water supply, and refugee-related infrastructure. ERD secretary Shahriar Kader Siddiky and ADB country director Hoe Yun Jeong signed the deals in Dhaka.
The $91m Northwest Distribution Network Modernisation Project will upgrade power distribution in Rajshahi and Rangpur with smart technologies, climate-resilient systems, solar backups, and livelihood options for women and marginalised island communities. It includes new substations, upgrades, and rooftop solar with storage. A $2m Japan-funded JFPR grant will improve disaster resilience in flood zones.
The Khulna Water Supply Project (Phase 2), backed by a $150m loan and $4m grant, will extend piped water to 1.78m residents, shift to surface water, address salinity, use smart supply management and SCADA, and cut non-revenue water. Technical assistance will study groundwater recharge.
For displaced people and host communities, Bangladesh will get a $58.6m grant and $28.1m concessional loan. The project covers water, sanitation, hygiene, energy, disaster resilience, and social cohesion in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char, with works including solar streetlights, sludge management, biogas, drainage, food centers, cyclone shelters, mini water systems, and road upgrades.