Switzerland and UNFPA Fund $2.2M for Rohingya Refugees

The cost of DWASA’s 'Dhaka Environmentally Sustainable Water Supply Project' has surged by Tk 28.28 billion in its third revision, raising the total estimated budget to Tk 109.75 billion—126.38% higher than the original Tk 48.48 billion approved in 2013. Despite an 11-year delay and 87% physical progress, the project remains incomplete.

Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus, has requested China to develop a 50-year masterplan for managing the country’s complex river and water systems, which are vital to its ecosystem but also pose significant challenges.

Canada has allocated $272.1 million in foreign aid for Bangladesh and the Indo-Pacific region, focusing on healthcare, women's empowerment, and climate change initiatives. This funding supports 14 projects in the region, with a significant emphasis on gender equality, sexual and reproductive health, and inclusive education.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has reduced monthly food aid for Rohingyas in Bangladesh from $12.50 to $6 per person starting in April, affecting over 1.1 million refugees in Cox’s Bazar and Bhashan Char. This follows a previous reduction in 2023 to $8, which led to 90% of camp residents struggling to access an adequate diet and over 15% of children suffering from malnutrition.

The Shikha project, launched by the European Union and Brac, addresses gender-based violence (GBV) in Bangladesh, where recent studies show alarming rates of harassment: 80% of women in garment factories, 74% of female students, 94% of women using public transport, and 68% of women on online platforms have faced violence.

Japan is contributing an additional $3.2 million to enhance food security in Bangladesh's communities severely impacted by Cyclone Remal and floods in 2024, which affected nearly 18 million people. This funding will aid both immediate food needs and long-term recovery, particularly in rebuilding infrastructure such as roads, embankments, and bridges in the hardest-hit districts, including Khulna, Satkhira, and Cumilla.