The Asian Development Bank (ADB) today (24 June) approved a $58.6 million grant from the Asian Development Fund (ADF) and a $28.1 million concessional loan to provide basic infrastructure and critical services for Rohingyas and host communities in Bangladesh.
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 will improve access to water, sanitation, roads, safety, drainage, food security, and disaster resilience for Rohingyas and host communities.
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A differentiated approach will be applied to address the specific needs of both Rohingyas and host communities in the Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char areas.
The project will also enhance connectivity and access to essential services, while strengthening government capacity to manage and implement projects.
“We are pleased to support Bangladesh in strengthening the protection and resilience of displaced people from Myanmar, while promoting social cohesion between those living in the camps and host communities,” said ADB Country Director for Bangladesh Hoe Yun Jeong.
“This new assistance builds on our earlier support—totaling $171.4 million in grants and loans— under the Emergency Assistance Project and its additional financing, which have been supporting the displaced population and host communities since 2018.”
In the Rohingya camps, the project will install or replace solar-powered streetlights in Cox’s Bazar and rehabilitate the existing fecal sludge management system in Bhasan Char, while optimising biogas production for cooking.
In Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char, drainage canals will be improved using nature-based solutions, and inclusive food distribution centers will be built for women, children, and people with disabilities.
In host communities, the project will construct cyclone shelters that double as schools in Hatia and implement mini piped water supply systems across nine upazilas in Cox’s Bazar.
The project will construct a surface water treatment plant in Palongkhali Union, Ukhia, and a transmission pipeline to deliver treated water in Teknaf. Additionally, the project will improve roads in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan char to enhance mobility and connectivity.
Over 1 million displaced people from Myanmar—approximately 75% of whom are women and children—are currently residing in 33 camps in Cox’s Bazar. More than 36,000 have been voluntarily relocated to Bhasan char in Noakhali district.
