Japan gives fresh waste disposal grant for Dhaka, Chittagong

Bangladesh and Japan have signed grant agreements to improve solid waste management in Dhaka and Chittagong.

With a new grant of 1,486 million Japanese Yen, JICA says Dhaka city’s waste collection rate would increase to 80 percent from the current 65 percent by 2019.
 
The rate will soar to 98 percent from the present 75 percent in Chittagong.

Under the new agreement, Japan will deploy another 150 waste-collection vehicles in both Dhaka and Chittagong.
 
Japan embassy’s Chargés d'affaires Takeshi Matsunaga, and additional secretary of the Economic Relations Division Mohammad Abu Taher signed the Exchange of Notes on Wednesday at the ERD auditorium.
 
JICA Chief in Dhaka Mikio Hataeda signed the grant agreement with the additional secretary.
 
Since 2003, Japan has been continuously providing assistance in waste management projects under its clean city slogan.
 
JICA has developed the sanitary landfill sites in Matuail and Amin Bazar and provided 112 waste collection vehicles.
 
In addition, Japan helped in the capacity building of city corporation officials through the technical support.
 
The JICA volunteers have also been engaged in environmental education for communities and students.
 
JICA says the amount of waste collection in Dhaka increased dramatically from 1,400 tonnes per day in 2004 to 3,300 tonnes per day in 2014, improving the environment.
 
The amount of waste is estimated to increase in Dhaka from 5,100 tonnes per day in 2014 to 5,700 tonnes per day in 2019.
 
It will also increase in Chittagong from 1,600 tonnes per day to 1,900 tonnes per day in 2019, JICA says.