A diverse group of experts, stakeholders, and professionals from the WASH sector provided valuable insights during the inception workshop for developing the Sector Development Plan (SDP) for the WASH sector in Bangladesh. The new SDP will be instrumental in shaping the WASH services in Bangladesh for the next 15 years from 2026 to 2040. The inception workshop took place on September 4, 2023, at the ITN-BUET Seminar Room, Dhaka.
Local Government Division (LGD) of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives (LGRD&C) has taken this pragmatic initiative to align the future investment plans in the WASH sector with a new development agenda, including SDGs. The SDP also needs to be aligned with government strategic documents like Perspective Plan 2041, Delta Plan 2100, and emerging issues like climate change, DRR, inclusion, etc. ITN-BUET is tasked with the responsibility of drafting the SDP with support from UNICEF.
Dr. Tanvir Ahmed, Director of ITN-BUET and Professor of the Civil Engineering department of BUET, provided an overview of the rationale for developing a new SDP where he emphasized the strategic nature of the SDP as a planning document to guide the future WASH sector in Bangladesh. From the ITN-BUET SDP development team, Mr. Md. Wali Ullah, Primary Coordinator and Mr. Md. Rashidul Huque, Technical Specialist, presented the outline of the new SDP and the investment plan and finance mechanisms for its implementation.
The attendees appreciated PSB, LGD, ITN-BUET and UNICEF for taking this timely initiative to harmonize the development of the WASH sector. Valuable feedback was received from the audience in the open discussion session. Two eminent retired Professors of BUET and think tank of the WASH sector in Bangladesh, Prof. Dr. M. Feroze Ahmed (Professor Emeritus of Stamford University) and Prof. Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman (Professor of United International University) mentioned that the current rate of progress for SDP is very insignificant. They emphasized the acceleration of existing efforts to achieve international commitment like SDG within the stipulated time and these should be reflected in the new SDP.
Mr. Md. Emdadul Hoq Chowdhury, Joint Secretary, PSB, LGD, participated in the event as a guest of honor. He underscored sustainable elements, including the mapping of hydrogeological diversity and the involvement of the private sector within the framework of the SDP.
