$58.6m ADB grant for displaced Myanmar nationals in BD
Staff Reporter :
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Tuesday approved a grant of US$58.6 million from the Asian Development Fund (ADF), along with a $28.1 million concessional loan, to support basic infrastructure and essential services for displaced people from Myanmar (DPFM) and host communities in Bangladesh.
According to an ADB press release, the ADF provides grants to ADB’s poorest and most vulnerable developing member countries.
The ‘Integrated Services and Livelihood for Displaced People from Myanmar and Host Communities Improvement Project’ aims to improve and expand access to water, sanitation, hygiene, roads and bridges, safety and security, drainage systems, food security, and disaster resilience.
The initiative will apply a differentiated approach to address the distinct needs of DPFM and host communities in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char. It also seeks to enhance access to essential services, improve connectivity, and strengthen the capacity of government institutions to manage and implement such projects.
“We are pleased to support Bangladesh in strengthening the protection and resilience of displaced people from Myanmar, while also promoting social cohesion between camp residents and the host population,” said ADB Country Director for Bangladesh Hoe Yun Jeong.
“This new assistance builds on our previous support-amounting to US$171.4 million in grants and loans-provided under the Emergency Assistance Project and its additional financing, which have supported both displaced populations and host communities since 2018,” he added.
In the DPFM camps, the project will include installation and replacement of solar-powered streetlights in Cox’s Bazar and the rehabilitation of the fecal sludge management system in Bhasan Char, alongside the optimization of biogas production for cooking purposes.
Both Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char will see the rehabilitation of drainage canals using nature-based solutions, as well as the construction of food distribution centers designed to improve accessibility for women, children, and persons with disabilities.
In host communities, cyclone shelters that double as schools will be built in Hatia, and mini piped water supply systems will be installed across nine upazilas (sub-districts) in Cox’s Bazar.
A surface water treatment plant will also be constructed in Palongkhali Union, Ukhiya, with a transmission pipeline delivering treated water to the water-scarce area of Teknaf.
Additionally, roads in both Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char will be upgraded to improve mobility and connectivity.
The press release noted that over one million displaced people from Myanmar-approximately 75% of whom are women and children-currently reside in 33 camps in Cox’s Bazar. More than 36,000 individuals have voluntarily relocated to Bhasan Char in Noakhali district.
ADB is a key multilateral development partner in the region, committed to fostering inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth across Asia and the Pacific. Through strategic partnerships and innovative financial tools, ADB works to address complex challenges, develop quality infrastructure, and protect the environment.
Established in 1966, ADB is owned by 69 members, 50 of which are from the Asia-Pacific region.