Two years after approval, a pilot project aimed at ensuring safe water supply in schools, madrasas and healthcare facilities in Khulna has yet to take off, with authorities failing to appoint a project director.
The ‘Safe Water Khulna District’ model pilot project, backed by international development partner Uptime Catalyst Facility (UCF), remains stalled despite an estimated cost of Tk 22.71 crore.
Of the total outlay, the government is expected to contribute around Tk 11.35 crore, while the remaining 50 percent will come as foreign grants.
According to project documents, implementation was scheduled to begin in January 2024 and continue until December 2030. However, with no project director in place, both administrative and technical activities have yet to commence.
Officials concerned said the absence of a project director has effectively halted the initiative, raising concerns over possible cost escalation and deadline extensions.
Ironically, the project was formally inaugurated on April 20, 2025, covering nine upazilas, two municipalities and 68 unions in Khulna. Yet, no visible progress has been made since.
The project aims to ensure safe drinking water in educational institutions and healthcare centres across the district. Delays in implementation could deprive thousands of students and patients of access to safe water, stakeholders fear.
A 2022 survey conducted under the REACH programme, covering 1,700 schools in Khulna, found that tubewells and rainwater harvesting are the primary sources of drinking water. It also revealed that at least 15 percent of schools have no drinking water source at all.
Following the conclusion of the REACH programme in 2024, the plan was to scale up the model into a donor-funded, contract-based water service system.
Under the proposed model, safe water services are expected to be expanded to around 10,000 schools and 300 healthcare facilities between 2024 and 2030, potentially benefiting about 320,000 children and thousands of outpatients. The estimated annual cost is around $350,000, which is less than $1 per beneficiary per year.
Contacted, Additional Chief Engineer (Planning) of the Department of Public Health Engineering, Ehteshamul Russell Khan, said via text message that the project would be implemented directly under the Local Government Division.
Superintending Engineer of Khulna Circle SM Shamim Ahmed declined to comment immediately. Chief Engineer of Khulna City Corporation Moshiuzzaman Khan also refrained from making any remarks.
Joint Secretary (Development) of the Local Government Division Md Abu Auwal said the appointment of a project director is handled by the Physical Infrastructure Division of the Planning Commission.
When contacted, Additional Secretary (Physical Planning, Water Supply and Housing Wing) of the Planning Commission Nikhil Kumar Das said he was not responsible for the matter.
“I do not look into this issue. You may contact Physical Planning, Water Supply and Housing Wing-2,” he told this correspondent.
However, Md Haider Ali, Joint Chief of Physical Planning, Water Supply and Housing Wing-2 of the Planning Commission, also said he was not directly dealing with the issue.
“I am not handling the matter either. You may provide me with the details, and I will look into it and get back to you,” he said.
Khulna District Education Officer SM Chayedur Rahman said a local NGO had approached them, but he was not aware of any such government initiative.
Experts warn that unless a project director is appointed promptly, the initiative risks prolonged delays, cost overruns and failure to deliver safe water services to key public institutions.
