ADB backs infrastructure, livelihoods for displaced people in Bangladesh

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Bangladesh have signed agreements for a US$58.6 million grant and a US$28.1 million concessional loan to improve basic infrastructure and services for displaced people from Myanmar and host communities.

Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD), and Hoe Yun Jeong, Country Director of ADB, signed the agreements on behalf of Bangladesh and ADB at the ERD offices in Dhaka.

We are pleased to support Bangladesh in strengthening the resilience and livelihood opportunities of displaced people from Myanmar and host communities, while fostering social cohesion. This new assistance builds on our previous support under the Emergency Assistance Project and its additional financing, which has provided a total of US$171.4 million in grants and loans since 2018.'

The Displaced People from Myanmar and Host Communities Improvement Project will significantly expand access to vital resources, including water, sanitation and hygiene, roads and bridges, drainage systems, food security, energy, and disaster resilience, thereby improving the quality of life and fostering hope. The project will employ tailored approaches for both displaced and host populations in Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char.

In the camps, solar-powered streetlights will be installed or replaced in Cox's Bazar, the faecal sludge management system will be rehabilitated in Bhasan Char, and biogas production will be optimised for cooking. Drainage canals will be rehabilitated using nature-based solutions, while food distribution centres will be built with improved access for women, children and people with disabilities.

For host communities, the new multi-purpose cyclone shelters in Hatia will enhance safety. In addition, innovative mini piped water systems will be installed across nine upazilas in Cox's Bazar, and a state-of-the-art surface water treatment plant will be established in Palongkhali Union and Ukhia, with a transmission pipeline to Teknaf, further strengthening health and well-being. Upgraded roads in Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char promise improved mobility and connectivity for all.

Currently, over 1 million displaced people from Myanmar—about 75% of whom are women and children—find shelter and hope in 33 camps in Cox's Bazar, while more than 36,000 have found new opportunities after relocating to Bhasan Char in Noakhali district.