A long-term plan is being taken into consideration to alleviate the shortage of potable water in the country.
A master plan for setting up a water grid line to supply potable water across the country, including coastal areas, is being studied.
Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Md Tajul Islam made the comments while speaking as the chief guest at a programme organized by ITN-BUET at the Council Building of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) on Thursday.
The local government minister said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken all kinds of initiatives for the betterment of the people including water and sanitation management after coming to power.
“In order to build a developed and prosperous country by 2041, along with economic development, many preconditions of the United Nations have to be fulfilled. This requires a concerted effort. Hence, the people of all classes and professions need to work in unity,” he said.
He added that the country is becoming an economic zone. Many types of industrial factories will be established. There will be plenty of water needed. If the necessary steps are not taken to supply water from now on, then there will be crisis later. Water would be pumped from the Meghna River in the Mirsarai Economic Zone.
“Chittagong WASA is going to set up a new water treatment plant. Other WASAs including Dhaka WASA have set up several water treatment plants under the local government department to solve the country's water problem,” said the minister.
It was further informed that the Department of Public Health Engineering has been working tirelessly on water and sanitation for marginalized people.
The LGRD minister said that with the increase in urbanization, the sanitation problem in the cities is increasing. Extensive sanitation development needs to be done by incorporating long-term planning, technological initiatives, institutional reforms and financial management.
“Many houses in the residential area of Dhaka city do not have their own septic tank. They dump sewage lines directly into lakes or canals. A campaign is in progress to make everyone aware about this. Action will be taken if septic tanks are not established within the given time,” said the minister.
BUET Vice Chancellor Prof Satya Prasad Majumdar presided over the function while Helaluddin Ahmed, Senior Secretary, Department of Local Government and Prof Abdul Jabbar Khan, Pro-Vice Chancellor, BUET, were present as special guests. Dr Rosan Raj Shrestha, Deputy Director, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was present as the Guest of Honor.
LGED Chief Engineer Md Abdur Rashid Khan, Chief Engineer of Public Health Engineering Department Md Saifur Rahman, Dhaka WASA Managing Director Taksim A. Khan along with officials of various government and non-government organizations and teachers of BUET concerned departments were present during the event.
