Falling WASH budget raises concerns over SDG progress and citizens' rights

The Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC) and WaterAid Bangladesh have raised concern over the continued decline in budget allocations for the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector in the proposed Annual Development Programme (ADP) for FY2025–26.

In a joint policy brief held at the PPRC office this morning (17 June), the two organisations warned that the trend threatens Bangladesh's progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) and National Priority Targets (NPT 17–18), and undermines citizens' rights to safe water and sanitation.

According to the analysis, WASH allocations have been steadily decreasing from a peak of Tk18,228 crore in FY2022–23 to a proposed Tk10,901 crore in FY2025–26.

Although the new proposal shows a slight increase from the revised FY2024–25 budget of Tk9,141 crore, it remains inadequate in addressing the scale of existing challenges.

The brief highlights major inequities in the distribution of WASH funds. 

Dhaka WASA alone has received more than Tk3,140 crore, while allocations to the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE), responsible for nationwide WASH delivery, have been reduced.

Only 7 of the 12 city corporations have received allocations, excluding Rajshahi, Rangpur, Cumilla, and Sylhet.

Intra-urban disparities also persist, with Dhaka North and Gazipur receiving the largest shares.

Meanwhile, rural and hard-to-reach areas such as the Chars (shoals) continue to face limited access to resources, despite a slight narrowing of the urban–rural gap.

The policy brief notes some progress in budget lines for Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) and climate adaptation. However, allocations for basic services such as water supply and sanitation infrastructure have decreased.

Concerns were also raised over the lack of focus on gender and social inclusion in the current budget.

The brief calls for an inclusive approach that addresses the specific needs of women, persons with disabilities, and marginalised communities including Dalits, tea workers, Bede people, and coastal fisherfolk.

The organisations urged the government to restore WASH allocations to at least FY2022–23 levels and adopt a more equitable budgeting strategy.

They also recommended integrating WASH into national climate resilience and public health agendas, strengthening infrastructure, regulatory reforms, and hygiene education, and improving monitoring to address systemic gaps and emerging threats such as arsenic, E. coli, and salinity intrusion.

"Water and sanitation are not merely technical issues. They are fundamental human rights and essential to health, dignity, and resilience. Budgetary priorities must reflect this, especially as climate pressures grow and inequalities deepen," said Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, executive chairman of PPRC.

The PPRC–WaterAid budget tracking partnership, active since FY2016–17, continues to support evidence-based advocacy for more inclusive WASH policies.

This year's findings, the organisations said, highlight the urgent need to make WASH a central pillar in Bangladesh's development planning.