Although 13 biodiversity hotspots in Bangladesh have been declared Ecologically Critical Areas (ECA) by the government, very few steps have been taken on the ground to protect them. While some steps were taken to protect five of those 13, the government violated its own rules in one of the ECAs the Sundarbans to […]
When Dhaka residents are already burdened with hikes of fuel, essentials and transport fare, Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Dhaka Wasa) recently proposed to hike water tariff by 25 percent for residential connections and 19 percent for commercial ones.
It takes Anwar Hossain, a 60-year-old cook at a mess in the capital’s Farmgate, about an hour to make a trip to the nearest deep tube-well, get 10 litres of water, and return home.
About 20 more such units are expected to be added to the campaign soon.
The initiative has been taken by Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Dhaka Wasa), WaterAid and Sweden Embassy. Wasa will supply water for each unit.
Floating people, street vendors, pedestrians, rickshaw-pullers, and drivers of public transportation are the key targets for this campaign, said organisers.
The units will be moving in the city s populated areas including Gulshan, Jatrabari, Mohakhali, Gabtoli, New Market, Karwan Bazar, Gulistan, Farmgate, Uttara, and Malibagh.
Inaugurating the campaign at Wasa Bhaban in the capital s Karwan Bazar as chief guest, Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Minister Tazul Islam said it will help create awareness among people about the importance of handwashing.