Residents of some parts of Narayanganj have been suffering immensely for the last four months due to stinky and filthy water supplied by the Narayanganj Water Supply and Sewerage Authority.
The worst affected areas of the city are Don Chamber, Khanpur, Missionpara, Deobhog, Netaiganj, Jamtala and Masdair.
Many residents of the city alleged that water supplied by the Wasa was not drinkable at all as it was stinky and had turned yellowish.
Habiba Akter Annonya, a resident of Don Chamber area, said: “Sometimes earthworf comes out with water from tap that is awful. We are suffering from skin disease.”
Ajmeri Islam, a resident of Jollarpar area, told the Dhaka Tribune that water supplied by the Wasa had turned blackish. They could not even take bath with the water. The water remained stinky even after it was boiled.
Majharul Islam Rokon, a resident of Golachipa area, said: “We cannot drink the water supplied by Wasa. We have to buy water.”
“We have been suffering for the last four months since the advent of winter season. Every year, we suffer in this way during the period. But there is no one to resolve the crisis, lamented Mehedi Hasan, a resident of Deobhog area.
Bring irritated by the supply of stinky and filthy water, residents of these areas were compelled to take to the street on Wednesday.
Hundreds of resident of the district under the banner of Amra Narayanganjbasi, a citizen platform, held a rally on Salimullah road. Parading different thoroughfares of the town, locals laid siege to the Wasa office, demanding measures to ease their sufferings.
The locals were very very infuriated that they poured the stinky water on the table of chief engineer of the Wasa. As the chief engineer was not present at the office, Beuty Hawladar Prova, assistant engineer of Wasa, accepted memorandum on behalf of her boos.
She told the Dhaka Tribune that they would inform the matter to higher authorities to take steps in the regard. Haji Nuruddin, president of Amra Narayanganjbasi, told the Dhaka Tribune that residents of Narayanganj had been suffering due to corruption, negligence and ignorance of Wasa authority.
“People cannot be able even to use the water in washing and bathing. Many people are buying water to meet their household chores. When we take bath with the filthy and stinky water, our bodies become stinky.
“Many people are suffering from different kinds of diseases such as fever, diarrhoea, dysentery and skin diseases,” he said.
If the situation continues, these diseases will spread as epidemic, he cautioned.
At the rally, General Secretary of Amra Narayanganjbasi Md Nasir Uddin Montu, Panel Mayor Sharmin Habib, Councillor Khodeza Khanom, Freedom Fighters - Md Ajhar Hossain and Aliuddin Bhuiyan were present.