Chattogram, Sept 4 (V7N) – Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury today said a new public-private partnership (PPP) model has been initiated as a pilot project in two wards of Patenga to resolve the water crisis in Chattogram, as the government transitions to broader funding mechanisms to deliver essential services .
"Chattogram city dwellers have been experiencing a crisis of clean water... Residents in marginalized wards are enduring significant difficulties due to this water shortage, which emerged as a major concern for the community," he said while addressing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony at the Radisson Blu Hotel .
Under the agreement, Chattogram WASA will collaborate with Max Foundation Bangladesh and Max Social Enterprise Limited on a three-year project to enhance water supply quality for underprivileged populations . Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Jan van der Linden, Deputy Head of Mission (Head of Trade and Development) at the Netherlands Embassy, witnessed the signing .
A survey conducted by Max Foundation Bangladesh and Max Social Enterprise Limited (Max Tapwater) in May revealed that **164,099 residents in Wards 40 and 41** have restricted access to safe drinking water . Only **20-40 percent of households** in these wards are connected to the Chattogram WASA pipeline network . Groundwater in the region is significantly saline, with test results showing levels as high as **3,000 ppm**, exceeding the national safe limit of 1,000 ppm . The Netherlands Embassy is offering financial and technical support for this initiative, with EJ Kruzen, First Secretary for Water and Climate Affairs at the Netherlands Embassy, also witnessing the signing ceremony .
The minister explained that the government is transitioning from restricted funding sources to a PPP model. "This means that the government will provide funding, the private sector will also contribute financially, and NGOs will assist," he said . He emphasized that the model being established through this partnership will be sustainable, long-lasting, and reliable, and stressed that proper maintenance is crucial to reap its benefits—a key challenge as government initiatives often lack proper upkeep .
The minister noted that the definition of economy has evolved, and it is no longer feasible for the government to handle everything independently. "We are implementing this partnership approach universally to effectively deliver government services," he said, adding that the new strategy adopted in the overall economic framework is broadening funding sources .
The project will begin with a demand assessment and pilot project in Wards 40 and 41 of Chattogram City Corporation, marking the first formal partnership among Chattogram WASA, Max Foundation, and Max Social Enterprise Limited, paving the way for a new approach in Bangladesh's water supply sector . The initiative also seeks to address water drainage challenges in Chattogram, with discussions already held with the Netherlands Embassy on the matter . The Netherlands has a long history of water management expertise and has been supporting water sector development in Bangladesh for decades .
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