Denmark is set to provide EUR 300 million to Bangladesh to address the pressing need for clean water in Dhaka, a city with a rapidly growing population. The funding will support the expansion of surface water treatment facilities at the Saidabad Water Treatment Plant under Phase III of the project, according to a press release from Dhaka WASA, the implementing agency.

This significant financial support comes from the Danish Government through Danida Sustainable Infrastructure Finance (DSIF), marking DSIF’s largest water infrastructure financing project to date. The maximum financing amount is Danish Kroner 2,239 million (approximately EUR 300 million).

Due to the rampant depletion of groundwater, Bangladesh has shifted its focus to using surface water sources. The Saidabad Water Treatment Plant, developed to address this need, currently sources water from the Shitalakhkha River in Phases I and II. Phase III will source raw water from the Meghna River, enhancing the plant’s capacity significantly.

The Saidabad Water Treatment Plant Project (SWTPP) involves the design and construction of this new phase, which will become one of the world’s largest water infrastructure projects in terms of water intake and treatment capacity. The plant will gain an additional capacity to treat 450,000 cubic meters of water per day. Moreover, a sludge treatment plant will be built to serve the full capacity of the entire plant, encompassing all phases.

Once Phase III is completed and operational, it will provide treated surface water to an additional 3 million residents of Dhaka, reducing the dependency on groundwater. This project contributes directly to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).