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Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan on Tuesday said Denmark’s cooperation could play a significant role in meeting Dhaka’s growing demand for safe water and addressing the capital’s worsening water crisis.
He said Denmark could become an important development partner of Bangladesh in water supply, waste management and other infrastructure-related sectors.
The minister made the remarks when Danish Ambassador to Bangladesh Christian Brix Moller paid a courtesy call on him at the Secretariat.
State Minister for Local Government and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam was present at the meeting.
The discussions focused on strengthening Bangladesh-Denmark relations, expanding cooperation in water supply and waste management, and exploring opportunities for Danish investment in development projects.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Danish ambassador congratulated Moyeen Khan on assuming his new responsibilities and expressed hope that bilateral relations would grow stronger in the coming days, with cooperation expanding into new areas.
The LGRD minister highlighted Denmark’s potential role in addressing some of Bangladesh’s pressing urban challenges, particularly water supply and waste management.
“Denmark has significant opportunities to invest in waste-to-energy projects,” he said, pointing to the potential for greater cooperation in turning urban waste into a source of energy while improving waste management.
The meeting also discussed Denmark’s financing and development assistance for the Sayedabad Water Treatment Plant Project, Phase-3, a major initiative aimed at strengthening Dhaka’s water supply capacity.
Under the financing arrangement, the Danish government will provide Tk 4,500 crore for the project. Of this, Tk 1,500 crore will come as a grant, while Tk 3,000 crore will be provided as a soft loan.
The project is expected to increase the availability of treated water for the capital as demand continues to rise with population growth and rapid urbanisation.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, State Minister Mir Shahe Alam described Denmark’s support for the third phase of the Sayedabad project as a major achievement for the government.
“Once the project is implemented, it will be possible to meet the increasing demand for clean water in Dhaka to a large extent,” he said.
Dhaka’s water supply system has faced growing pressure in recent years as the capital’s population and water consumption have increased. The city’s dependence on groundwater has also raised concerns over declining groundwater levels, while pollution of surface-water sources has made treatment and sustainable water management increasingly important.
The Sayedabad Water Treatment Plant is one of Dhaka WASA’s key sources of treated surface water. Expansion of its capacity is therefore expected to help reduce pressure on groundwater and strengthen the capital’s long-term water security.
The Danish financing also reflects Copenhagen’s broader development cooperation with Bangladesh, particularly in areas linked to climate resilience, sustainable infrastructure and environmental management.
Waste management was another important area discussed at the meeting. With Dhaka generating thousands of tonnes of municipal waste every day, waste collection, disposal and recycling remain major challenges for city authorities. Converting waste into energy could potentially address two problems at once by reducing the volume of waste sent to landfills while generating electricity or other usable energy.
The discussions between the two sides therefore covered not only immediate water-supply needs but also longer-term urban sustainability.
Officials said the government is keen to expand international cooperation in infrastructure and public-service delivery as Dhaka faces increasing pressure from population growth, unplanned urbanisation and environmental degradation.
Local Government Division Secretary Md Shahidul Hassan, Dhaka WASA Managing Director Md Aminul Islam and senior officials of the ministry were also present at the meeting.