WASH budget rebounds, but equitable financing persists: PPRC
Despite a 25% increase in ADP allocations for FY27, haor, char areas still left behind
Allocations for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector have rebounded after a three-year downward trend in the proposed Annual Development Programme (ADP) for fiscal 2026-27, though experts warn that financing gaps and persistent inequities remain.
According to a post-budget analysis by the Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC) and WaterAid Bangladesh presented today (17 June) in Dhaka, WASH allocation has risen to Tk13,618 crore in FY27, about a 25% increase from Tk10,901 crore in the current fiscal year.
Despite a hefty increase in WASH allocations, targeted financing for haor, char, coastal and rural communities remain inadequate, notes the analysis.
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It says the sector's share of both the national budget and total ADP has improved only marginally. However, it cautions that progress in addressing service disparities and ensuring equity has yet to materialise.
While the overall national budget has increased by 9.38% and the ADP by 3.16%, the WASH sector's share has grown by just 0.13 percentage points, indicating limited structural rebalancing.
PPRC Executive Chairman Hossain Zillur Rahman cautioned that higher allocations alone will not be sufficient. He stressed the need for efficient fund utilisation, stronger monitoring, evidence-based accountability, and timely implementation of long-delayed projects.
