B Mirror Report: The World Bank has approved a $370 million loan (more than Tk 4,000 crore) to prevent water pollution and improve sanitation systems in Dhaka and its surrounding areas.

The approval was granted at a meeting of the Executive Directors at the organization’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., according to a statement issued from the World Bank’s Dhaka office.

Under the program titled “Metro Dhaka Water Security and Resilience,” the capacity of various city corporations in Dhaka and Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Dhaka WASA) will be strengthened. The primary objective of the project is to reduce pollution in rivers and canals and restore their navigability and natural flow.

The organization said that about 550,000 people will gain access to improved sanitation facilities, while 500,000 people will benefit from enhanced waste management services. Areas heavily affected by pollution and lacking services will receive priority under the initiative.

Jean Pesme, World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan, said that water bodies are a lifeline for millions of residents in Dhaka. However, rapid and unplanned urbanization has overwhelmed waste management systems, negatively impacting public health and the economy. He added that the project will establish an institutional foundation for restoring the health of Dhaka’s rivers and canals.

According to the organization’s report, only 20 percent of Dhaka’s residents are connected to a piped sewerage system, while more than 80 percent of untreated wastewater flows directly into the city’s water bodies and rivers. More than half of Dhaka’s canals have either disappeared or become clogged with waste.

The report further noted that 80 percent of the country’s export-oriented garment factories are located in and around Dhaka. Around 7,000 factories discharge approximately 2.4 billion liters of untreated waste into rivers every day, contributing to rising cases of skin diseases, diarrhea, and neurological complications. The project will involve the private sector in establishing Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) and promoting water reuse.

Harsha Goel, Senior Water Specialist and Task Team Leader at the World Bank, said the initiative is part of a long-term plan. In the first phase, work will begin in selected areas of Dhaka and Narayanganj. The program will introduce digital real-time monitoring of river water quality and implement an integrated river restoration plan. It will also upgrade primary waste collection systems, modernize recycling methods, and conduct public awareness campaigns to discourage the direct disposal of waste into drains and rivers.