BD ready for first PPP pilot project

Bangladesh's first public-private wastewater management project is set for development in Gazipur, a major hub for ready-made garment manufacturing.

In a first-of-its-kind initiative, with support from International Finance Corporation (IFC), a wastewater and sludge treatment system will be built with private-sector participation in two of its urban zones.

The project aims to treat domestic sewage that will benefit nearly 230,000 households, according to an IFC statement issued on Wednesday.

The move follows the November 30 virtual signing of an agreement with IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and the Public-Private Partnership Authority (PPPA) of Bangladesh.

The IFC will provide transaction advisory services to help set up a wastewater management system in Gazipur and Tongi areas under Gazipur city corporation.

With an estimated $82-million cost, the pilot project will include a sewerage network of nearly 137 kilometres, two sewage treatment plants of about 56-million litres per day cumulative capacity.

It also entails mechanical desludging of septic tanks, and transportation of fecal sludge to three treatment plants, the IFC statement added.

"The Gazipur wastewater treatment project is a big step towards meeting Bangladesh's goal of improving environmental and wastewater treatment standards in line with sustainable development goals," said PPPA chief executive officer Sultana Afroz.

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