ADB Provides $ 230 Million for Flood Rehabilitation in Bangladesh

Dhaka: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide a loan of USD 230 million to Bangladesh to help the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the northeastern part of the country affected by devastating floods in May–June 2022. The agreement between ADB and the government of Bangladesh was signed in Dhaka on Monday.

Record rainfall in northeastern Bangladesh in May–June 2022 caused massive flooding, especially in the low-lying Haor region, affecting 7.2 million people.

The assistance under the Flood Reconstruction Emergency Assistance Project will help in the reconstruction, improvement of resilience, and economic recovery of northeastern districts of Brahmanbaria, Habiganj, Kishoreganj, Moulvibazar, Mymensingh, Netrokona, Sherpur, Sunamganj, and Sylhet.

“The project will address the climate change impacts by developing innovative climate-resilient infrastructure under the build-back-better principles in line with the government’s national adaptation plan,” said ADB Country Director Edimon Ginting. He said the project will also help improve living conditions, livelihoods, and climate resilience in the flood-affected northeast region of Bangladesh by reducing flood risk and improving climate-resilient irrigation infrastructure and water delivery services. The loan will also help in rehabilitating rural roads, rail tracks, and river embankments.

In partnership with reputable national and international research institutes, the project will support climate-smart agriculture technologies and livelihood support to the flood-affected people. The improvement in agriculture value chains will enhance food security, nutrition, employment, poverty reduction, and rural livelihoods, said the ADB.

The project will also support water management through alternative wetting and drying technology, direct seeded rice, and the use of solar irrigation for climate adaptation and mitigation.