WB to grant $100mn to improve basic services in Cox’s Bazar

DHAKA (Nov 18, 2020): The government of Bangladesh on Thursday signed a $100 million grant financing agreement with the World Bank to scale up access to energy, water, sanitation services and disaster-resilient infrastructures for the Rohingya and the surrounding host communities.

Md. Shahabuddin Patwary, additional secretary, Economic Relations Division of Bangladesh and Mercy Tembon of the WB signed the deal.

The additional financing to the ongoing Emergency Multi-Sector Rohingya Crisis Response Project will benefit about 780,800 people, including 140,800 locals with better public infrastructure.

“This will help about 365,800 people access to improved water sources and 171,800 people access better sanitation,” said the WB in a statement.

The Washington-based multilateral lender said service delivery will be improved through installing mini-piped water supply schemes, point water sources, and rainwater harvesting systems, along with household toilets and community toilets in the Cox’s Bazar district.

“Since the very beginning of the crisis, the World Bank has been supporting Bangladesh respond to the needs of Rohingya people as well as the host communities,” said Mercy Miyang Tembon, WB country director for Bangladesh and Bhutan.

“We recognize that the sheer magnitude of the influx placed enormous pressure on Cox’s Bazar’s infrastructure and provision of basic services. The additional financing will help alleviate the pressure and address the needs of the host communities as well as the Rohingya people.”

It will help build 40 multi-purpose disaster shelters, accessible to 81,000 people and climate resilient evacuation roads, as well as install around 4,000 solar streetlights and 975 lightning protection systems. It will also help government agencies to strengthen institutional systems and capacities to plan, coordinate and respond to crisis and emergencies.

With the latest additional financing, the WB’s total commitment to the project stands at $265 million in grants. So far, the WB has provided $480 million in grants to enable Bangladesh to deal with the displaced population inflow.

Bangladesh currently has the largest IDA program totaling $14.04 billion. Since independence, the World Bank has committed more than $31 billion in grants, interest-free, and concessional credits to the country.