Staff Correspondent

Implemented by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), the “Improving Urban Governance and Infrastructure Project (IUGIP)” seeks to realize a planned, inclusive, and sustainable urbanization.

Through a ‘result-based lending’ approach, the project aims to boost infrastructure development and management efficiency in 63 municipalities. Additionally, operational and maintenance activities for another 25 municipalities under UGIIP-3 are being incorporated into the project, as per LGED sources.

Minister for Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives, Tajul Islam, formally inaugurated the project as the chief guest at a recent function.

During the event, the LGRD Minister, the Chief Engineer of LGED, and development partners expressed satisfaction with the project’s progress.

The project, valued at Tk 850 crore, has seen tenders awarded for 112 packages totaling Tk 1200 crores. Evaluation for the remaining Tk 350 crore worth of work is currently underway. Furthermore, equipment supply contracts for 6 packages, valued at Tk 120 crore, are slated for completion by June this year. Additionally, consulting firms, including MDS, GICD & IVA, have been recruited.

Financial backing for the project comes from donor agencies, including the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Agence Française de Développement (AFD), with a total estimated cost of $602 million. Of this, the Bangladesh Government will contribute $100 million, ADB $302 million, and AFD $200 million.

Approved by ECNEC on June 20, 2023, the project is scheduled for completion by June 30, 2028. It encompasses the construction of 900 km of drains, 1500 km of roads, and 7 community facilities, including climate-resilient and inclusive public spaces. Moreover, the project ensures the development of poor settlements with the active participation of 50% women from the municipality in construction activities.

Rezaul Islam served as the initial Project Director, with Md. Abdul Bareque appointed as the new Project Director on January 2 this year.

Talking to this correspondent, the new Project Director, Abdul Bareque, affirmed that the project is progressing at full pace. He highlighted key components such as governance improvement, capacity development of municipalities, equity, and inclusiveness of women and urban poor, local resource mobilization, financial management, accountability, sustainability, administrative transparency, and essential municipality services.

The Project Director is optimistic about meeting the project’s deadline.

Sources indicate that ADB & AFD prioritize inclusive development through infrastructure construction for the poor under the IUGIP project. They emphasize that sustainable development requires integrating them into development initiatives. Furthermore, they underscore the importance of developing management systems and constructing climate-resilient projects for sustainable development.