Shahinur Rahman Sona, Rajshahi

Bangladesh and China signed 21 instruments including two renewed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and made announcement of 7 more projects to elevate "comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership" from "strategic partnership" between the two countries. Out of these announced projects, the commencement of Rajshahi WASA Surface Water Treatment Plant is on the list.

Aiming at supplying safe drinking water among Rajshahi city dwellers and and improve local people's livelihood, Rajshahi WASA Surface Water Treatment Plant is a cooperation between Rajshahi WASA and Hunan Construction Engineering Group (HCEG).

The proposed SWTP comprises construction of an intake, conventional treatment plant, treated water transmission mains, booster pump station and a provision of installing 53-kilometer main pipelines and 48-kilometer primary and secondary distribution pipelines. It has been one year since the notice for commencement of works issued by Rajshahi WASA to HCEG on 10th July, 2023.

Through one year of efforts and hard working, the project team has accomplished the establishment of site facilities, including a concrete batching station, a three-story prefabricated office building and staff quarters.

To date, HCEG's preliminary design has been submitted and the consultants is expediting their review and approval, which will be completed in the near future. The detailed design will also be approved at sub-nodes without affecting the construction progress on site.

Meanwhile, the sandfilling work of water treatment plant and booster pump station has already been completed and thus has reached the requirement of the pile foundation construction. It’s estimated that the project team will start the construction of pile foundation by the end of July.

Besides, with the support of the Road & Highway Department, Rajshahi, Rajshahi WASA has handed over six mile of land to HCEG for the purpose of laying transmission pipeline. The next step of HCEG is to carry out the laying work of the pipes.

With a seamless collaboration by Rajshahi WASA and HCEG, the project is progressing smoothly. In the Joint Declaration of China and Bangladesh on the Establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership, it says both sides expressed satisfaction with the progress of major Sino-Bangladeshi cooperation projects, including the Rajshahi WASA Surface Water Treatment Plant. With Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to China, more and more people will pay their attention this project.