The City Bank PLC and Water.org have launched a two-year initiative in Bangladesh to expand access to safe water and sanitation, with Tk200 crore in financing for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and microfinance institutions (MFIs) in the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector.
The bank will provide the funds through low-interest, easy-term loans, alongside training and community engagement to strengthen water, sanitation, and hygiene practices, City Bank said in a press release.
The programme will support small and medium entrepreneurs in remote areas and promote awareness through courtyard meetings and local gatherings.
The initiative was inaugurated at an event titled “Shaping the Future of Safe Water” held at a hotel in Dhaka.
State Minister for Water Resources Forhad Hossain Azad attended as the chief guest, while Bangladesh Bank SME and Special Programmes Department Executive Director Husne Ara Shikha attended as the special guest.
City Bank Additional Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer Md Mahbubur Rahman, Deputy Managing Director and Head of Small, Microfinance and Agent Banking Business Kamrul Mehedi, and Executive Vice President and Head of Agent Banking Md Mohibur Rahman were present.
Water.org Executive Director for South Asia and Country Director Sajid Amit, along with senior officials from both organisations, also attended the event.
The state minister highlighted the need for coordinated efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), warning that climate change and falling groundwater levels could trigger a safe water crisis.
He said the government has taken various initiatives to address the challenge.
The Bangladesh Bank executive director said the initiative aligns with sustainable financing policies and supports progress towards SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation and SDG 8 through inclusive lending.
The programme aims to expand access to safe water and sanitation while strengthening community awareness and local entrepreneurship in the sector.
