Post-budget press briefing on WASH allocation for National Budget 2022-23

At a press conference today, speakers addressed the budgetary allocations under safely managed sanitation, environment and capacity-building show a surprising decline in the WASH allocation under the Annual Development Programme (ADP) budget FY22-23 in the proposed National Budget. They raised concern this will slow down the country’s effort to achieving SDGs targets by 2030.

They said the proposed budget of FY2022-23 finds an upward trend in allocation in haor and hilly regions. This spirit should be scaled up in coastal and char lands to ensure no one is left behind. However, speakers stressed proper attention in selecting Annual Development Programme projects and the need to reduce the WASH allocation gap across rural and hard-to-reach areas. They also identified the current budget falls short in addressing emerging challenges in the remote areas of marginalised communities.

The conference was jointly arranged by WaterAid along with, PPRC, FANSA-BD, FSM Network, Bangladesh Water Integrity Network (BaWin), Sanitation and Water for All, End Water Poverty, MHM Platform, UNICEF and WASH Alliance International at National Press Club, Shegunbagicha.

Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman, Eminent Economist, Executive Chairman, PPRC and Hossain Ishrath Adib, Acting Country Director of WaterAid, and representatives from WASH networks spoke at the programme among other WASH specialists, including journalists and development workers.