US, UK Co-Fund to Reduce Dhaka Rivers Pollution

The US embassy in Dhaka said on Friday that a new anti-pollution advocacy project titled “Promoting democratic governance and collective advocacy for environmental protection in Dhaka city,” developed by Waterkeepers Bangladesh Consortium and in collaboration with Counterpart International was launched.

The project is co-funded by the US Agency for International Development and the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth, and Development Office and is designed to advocate for clean Dhaka rivers, including Savar, Keraniganj, and the Gazipur neighbourhoods in Dhaka district, said a press release.

Through this $297,000 USAID grant, to improve the environment and quality of life in Dhaka, Waterkeepers Bangladesh would implement a robust advocacy initiative to monitor and control Dhaka City water, air, and noise quality. 

US Embassy Dhaka Deputy Chief of Mission JoAnne Wagner, Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Gowher Rizvi, Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Atiqul Islam, and Deputy Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Habibun Nahar participated in the event.

In 2020, USAID provided over $200 million to expand food security and economic opportunity, improve health and education, promote democratic institutions and practices, protect the environment, and increase resilience to climate change in Bangladesh.