A high-level consultation mission of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) met Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam on Monday.

South Asia Department (SARD) Director General Takeo Konishi, ADB Bangladesh Resident Mission Country Director Edimon Ginting and other important department Heads were present at the meeting.

During the meeting, issues of mutual interest were discussed between the two parties.

The delegation wants to understand the ministry’s demands, identify the key issues on ADB’s portfolio, and establish a strong pipeline for the next three years, in order to better support the ministry’s development.

In the meeting, the delegation discussed climate resilient projects related to climate change, the possibility of launching municipal bonds for internal resources mobilization, improving the rural sewerage system, river bank erosion projects and investing in primary health care projects. Also, there was a discussion about protecting the navigability of rivers around the capital Dhaka.

The feasibility of a project to protect the pollution, encroachment and navigability of the river circling Dhaka was discussed.

Considering the continual rapid and the associated need for basic urban infrastructure as well as the priorities, ADB's main pillars of support will remain water supply and sanitation (sanitation, waste) were discussed.

ADB will support the city in improving urban planning and providing more resilient urban services. Efforts will be to develop "model" towns that can be replicated, the ADB team told the LGRD Minister.