French Envoy Optimistic About Fast-Tracking LGRDC Projects in BD

French Ambassador to Bangladesh Marie Masdupuy commended the strong partnership between AFD and local agencies, such as the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA), Chattogram Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (CWASA), and the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE). She expressed hope for the swift and smooth implementation of ongoing projects, aiming to deliver timely benefits to the people of Bangladesh.

On February 2, Ambassador Masdupuy met with Asif Mahmud, Adviser to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives (LGRDC), to discuss matters of mutual interest.

France is the largest bilateral donor for LGRDC projects in Bangladesh, having committed nearly €690 million in funding. A flagship initiative under AFD’s urban development program is the Gandharbpur Water Treatment Plant, co-financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the European Investment Bank (EIB). This €177 million project aims to supply fresh potable water to 4.3 million Dhaka residents by shifting water sources from dwindling underground reserves to the Meghna River. The project is being executed by a French joint venture of Suez International and OTV-Veolia.

Additionally, AFD, alongside Team Europe (including German KFW, Danish DANIDA, and EIB), is supporting the third phase of the Saidabad Water Treatment Plant in Dhaka. This expansion will ensure access to safe drinking water for nearly 2.5 million people.

On February 2, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the Chattogram Metropolitan North Kattali Catchment Sanitation Project, which is backed by a €175 million concessional loan from AFD. The project will provide modern sanitation services to around 300,000 residents by 2030, while an additional 50,000 people in North Kattali will gain access to basic sanitation, including fecal sludge management.