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How ADB Is Helping the Poor in Bangladesh
Infrastructure
updated April 2003

Jamuna Bridge Railway Link

This project is helping to integrate the railway network in the eastern and western regions of the Jamuna River thereby accelerating economic growth.

It will remove the existing critical railway bottleneck at the Jamuna River ferry crossing and optimize the utilization of the Jamuna Bridge. The new infrastructure provided by the project will support the physical and economic integration of the northwestern region of Bangladesh with the eastern region, create new jobs and increase income opportunities that will benefit the population in the northwest region. It will facilitate the development of coal and hard rock mining in this region and will generate substantial volume of new traffic for carriage by rail. It will also lead to transport cost savings and improved services in the subregional context. In addition, the project will enhance subregional cooperation on rail transport and facilitate movement of subregional freight traffic from the neighboring countries to Mongla and Chittagong port.

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Southwest Road Network Development

This project is helping to open a shorter and more cost-effective east-west road corridor linking Dhaka with the southwestern cities of Mongla, Khulna, Jessore, and Benapole, thereby creating conditions for greater regional cooperation with neighboring countries and inducing economic growth in the relatively neglected southwestern region of the country. It is providing more mobility in seeking employment opportunities and income generation, reliable access to large markets and export opportunities, improved access to Mongla Port, creating safer roads through technical improvements and public awareness, and improving air quality.

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Rural Infrastructure Improvement

This project will assist in reducing rural poverty through sustainable economic growth, rural development and improved infrastructure in some 16 districts of Khulna and Barisal divisions in southwest Bangladesh.

It will help to improve rural roads, growth center markets, boat landings, ferries, and union council office complexes. It will step up rural infrastructure maintenance and strengthen the capacity of the Local Government Engineering Department and improve local governance.

About 5.9 million people, around half of whom are poor, will benefit from the improved feeder roads. The project will generate about 50,000 person-years of employment for local laborers to assist in road improvement maintenance, thereby increasing the incomes of the rural poor.

It will also pave the way for more efficient trading, increased employment opportunities, and better access to basic education and social services.

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Urban Governance and Infrastructure Improvement

This project will assist selected municipalities to:

• enhance accountability in management and strengthen capabilities in providing services
• develop physical infrastructure and urban services to increase economic opportunities, and reduce vulnerability to environmental degradation, poverty and natural hazards

It will promote the active participation of women citizens in municipal management and services as well as upgrade the conditions of the poorest and most needy groups in the slum areas. More than 1.8 million citizens of the project towns or 6% of the total urban population are expected to benefit from the improvements in basic urban infrastructure facilities.

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Secondary Towns Infrastructure Development II

This project supports economic growth and services for the urban poor by creating infrastructure facilities. Roads, drainage, street lighting, water supply and sanitation facilities are created for the secondary town dwellers especially for the slums dwellers to improve their living condition.

Poor women of slums are also provided micro-credit, skills training, health awareness, and healthcare support through the municipalities.

In addition, this project supports the development of town centers through construction and upgrading of markets and bus terminals. Facilities of dustbins, sanitary latrines, and open disposal sites at selected project Pourashavas or municipalities are also provided.

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Third Rural Infrastructure Development

This project supports economic growth through infrastructure development, creating access to economic activities by the rural poor.

Besides roads and bridges, it helps to develop rural markets that have special corners for poor women to sell their products and bring them in the mainstream economic activities.

Employment and income-generating opportunities are also created for women in maintaining the infrastructure developed, including

• drainage facilities, ghats - landing piers for boats and ferries
• Union Parishad complexes
• flood refuge centers
• four submersible roads on a pilot basis in haor areas

The project also engages poor and disadvantaged women in tree plantation and maintenance of more than 1,300 km of roads. Each woman will be hired for two years together with a compulsory savings scheme, and will obtain training in income generating activities to invest her two-year savings in appropriate business.

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