World Bank signed an agreement with the Bangladeshi government in Dhaka on Wednesday to provide US$149 million to improve and sustain water and sanitation services in its capital Dhaka, one of the fastest growing mega-cities in the world.

Bangladeshi Finance Ministry Economic Relations Division (ERD) Secretary Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan and World Bank Country Director Zhu Xian signed the agreement on behalf of their respective sides.

The Dhaka Water Supply and Sanitation Project is designed to assist Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA) to improve and ensure sustainable delivery of storm water drainage, wastewater and water services.

The project would install selected storm-water pumping stations and rehabilitate selected canals to minimize urban flooding. It will also repair and make expansion of the city's sewerage network and treatment plants.

The project will support DWASA's pilot expansion of water and sanitation services into some of Dhaka's slums.

Currently there are no piped distribution networks available in slum areas of the capital. This project will help DWASA to bring water and sanitation services to about 305,000 poor people living in slums.

(Xinhua News Agency December 17, 2008)