Water prices in Dhaka will soon be fixed zone-wise, Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Minister Md Tajul Islam has said.
Arrangements will be made to provide water at reduced prices to the low-income people living in slums in Dhaka, he told reporters after a program held at the Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) on Friday.
The minister later claimed that most of the people living in Dhaka are well off, so there is so justification to collect revenue from the poor to subsidize the rich.
“Why should people living in slums pay the same water bill as those living in Gulshan and Banani?" he asked.
Gulshan, Banani areas would have to pay more for water, while prices will be relatively low in areas where low-income people live.
Water supplied by Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) will not be subsidized, he added.
“Not only water but the price of holding tax, gas, electricity and other utility services will also be fixed according to zones,” he said.
Tajul Islam added that the time has come for implementing the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) that has been published as a gazette recently.
“The DAP gazette has been published after much effort. It will help turn Dhaka into a livable, modern and scenic city. We need everyone’s help in implementing the plan,” added the minister.
The event was presided over by City Reporters’ Forum President Adilur Rahman.
Zafar Wazed, director general (DG) of PIB, Dwip Azad, secretary general of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Nazrul Islam Mithu, president of Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) were present at the event.