WASH budget rebounds, calls for equitable financing

Allocations for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector have rebounded after a three-year downward trend in the proposed Annual Development Programme (ADP) for FY2026–27, 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 FY2026–27, 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.

The analysis 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.

The report also highlights continued service inequality. Data from the 2025 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), conducted by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics and UNICEF, shows that 41.8% of the population still lacks safely managed drinking water, while 60.7% remains without safely managed sanitation—posing a major challenge to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

Policy experts say the core challenge has shifted from policy design to implementation. 

Advocate Faiyazuddin Ahmed, head of Policy Advocacy at WaterAid Bangladesh, noted that a large section of the population still lacks access to safe water and sanitation, stressing the need to translate existing policies into effective service delivery.

The analysis also flags a strong urban bias in allocation. Around 72% of total WASH ADP funding is directed to urban areas, with the combined allocation for the four city water authorities rising to Tk6,673 crore. Of this, Dhaka Wasa alone receives Tk5,010 crore—about 37% of the total WASH allocation.

In contrast, the Department of Public Health Engineering, the main agency responsible for rural water and sanitation services, sees its allocation fall to Tk2,408 crore from Tk3,428 crore, raising concerns over rural service delivery.

While allocations for the Chattogram Hill Tracts have increased notably, the report says there is no dedicated allocation for haor areas, coastal funding has declined, and char regions remain largely underrepresented in the budget structure.

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.