Located in the southeast of the country, Chittagong is the second largest city in Bangladesh with a population of over 5 million inhabitants. Its strategic location as the busiest seaport in the region has made it a major economic hub attracting strong inflows of foreign investment into the production of apparel, ship breaking and oil refinery activities. However, despite its economic growth, population growth and poor planning has caused serious social, infrastructure and environmental problems.

Chittagong has been a sought-after migrant destination since 1947. This rapid expansion placed heavy pressure on the infrastructure and frontline services in the city. Recent studies suggest that one third of the urban dwellers in Chittagong city live in unplanned slums and congested areas with limited access to basic amenities, such as clean water, drainage, gas and electricity.