Disparities in WASH Allocations: Urban Areas Receive 72% of Funds, Neglecting Rural Needs

Recent data from the Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC) and WaterAid Bangladesh reveals a concerning disparity in the allocation of funds for Water, Sanitation, and Health (WASH) initiatives. Despite an overall increase in the WASH budget to 136.18 billion Taka, 72% of these funds are directed towards urban areas, leaving rural and climate-vulnerable regions underserved. Dhaka WASA alone receives nearly half of the total allocation for water supply and sewerage authorities, amounting to 51.01 billion Taka (36.8% of the total WASH ADP). This concentration of resources in urban centers, particularly Dhaka, occurs despite significant portions of the population in rural and remote areas still lacking access to safe water (41.8%) and sanitation (60.7%). The allocation process favors long-term infrastructure projects over essential needs in high-risk areas like Haor, Char, and coastal regions. The report also notes a decrease in allocations for the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE), which is crucial for rural infrastructure development. This unequal distribution contradicts the principles of equitable development and necessitates a fundamental shift in resource allocation strategies.

The significant disparity in WASH budget allocation, favoring urban areas over rural and climate-vulnerable regions, highlights systemic inequalities in development and public service provision, demanding a more equitable distribution strategy.