Dhaka’s water crisis gets Danish lifeline

Denmark’s cooperation will play an important role in addressing Dhaka’s growing demand for safe drinking water and tackling the capital’s water crisis, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Moyeen Khan said on Tuesday.

He made the remarks during a meeting with Danish Ambassador to Bangladesh Christian Brix Moller at his office at the Secretariat.

“Denmark can be an important partner of Bangladesh in water supply, waste management and development assistance,” the minister said.

The meeting discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations, expand cooperation in water supply and waste management, and explore Danish investment opportunities in development projects.
State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam also attended the meeting.

Ambassador Moller congratulated Moyeen Khan on assuming his new responsibility and expressed hope that cooperation between Bangladesh and Denmark would be further strengthened.

The meeting also focused on Danish financing and cooperation for the Sayedabad Water Treatment Plant Project (Phase III).

Under the project, the Danish government will provide around Tk 4,500 crore in financing, including Tk 1,500 crore in grants and Tk 3,000 crore in low-interest loans.

“There are also opportunities for Danish investment in producing energy from waste,” Moyeen Khan said.

Major boost for Dhaka’s water supply
Briefing reporters after the meeting, State Minister Mir Shahe Alam described Denmark’s cooperation in the third phase of the Sayedabad Water Treatment Plant project as a major success for the government.

He said the project, once implemented, would significantly help meet Dhaka’s increasing demand for safe drinking water.

The Danish financing would also reduce the government’s financial burden in implementing the project, he added.