ADB grants $71m for climate-resilient water in Bangladesh

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Bangladesh government has inked a loan agreement worth $71 million to bolster flood control, irrigation, and water resource management in the rural areas of Gopalganj and Madaripur districts. This initiative is designed to enhance their climate change preparedness and resilience, as reported  by Xinhua on Sunday.

Edimon Ginting, the ADB’s Country Director in Bangladesh highlighted that this project underscores ADB’s renewed pledge to assist Bangladesh in addressing climate change challenges by enhancing flood control, irrigation, and water resource management.

He added that the project, building on previous successful initiatives, is set to stimulate economic growth and productivity, raise income and sustainable livelihoods, particularly for women and vulnerable groups, and alleviate poverty in southwest Bangladesh’s rural regions.

The Climate-Resilient Integrated Southwest Project for Water Resources Management is projected to benefit over 600,000 people.

It will introduce climate-resilient measures for flood control, drainage, and irrigation and work towards reducing saline intrusion.

The project will also focus on the development and enhancement of integrated water management plans and the construction of training centers for water management organisations and other community infrastructure.