Dhaka Wasa Managing Director Md Fazlur Rahman has said that after joining Wasa, he observed that irregularities appeared to be endless, with many projects implemented but most not following the proper rules.
He said: “Municipal roads were dug, agreements were made with Wasa, funds were disbursed, but expenses were taken from one sector and used in another. As a result, roads remain dug up for days, dust flies everywhere, rickshaws fall into pits, and accidents occur. There is a significant lack of coordination here.”
He made these remarks on Thursday at the closing ceremony of the "NABWASA" project organized by WaterAid Bangladesh at the Lakeshore Hotel in Dhaka.
Fazlur Rahman further said: “Before taking this responsibility, I thought Wasa only worked on water supply. However, after joining, I realized that Wasa is also responsible for the sewerage system. You will be surprised to know that in a city like Dhaka, only 20% of the areas are covered by a sewerage system, leaving 80% uncovered. What happens to this 80%? When we walk near drains in Dhaka, there is an overwhelming stench because untreated sewage finds its way into these drains. I had not anticipated this. To address the issue, we have created a master plan. Under this plan, two treatment plants are currently operational, and we are working on three more. By 2030, we hope to cover 70% of the areas, though achieving 100% may not be possible.”
The Wasa MD emphasized the need to raise awareness, saying: “No matter how many projects we undertake, we must improve awareness. For instance, the person who collects garbage is one of the most important individuals in this process. However, we often refer to them negatively as 'garbage collectors.' We should instead say 'cleaning workers' or 'cleaning vehicles' instead of 'garbage vehicles.' The term 'garbage' carries a negative connotation. Municipal workers are often not given the attention they deserve, despite being crucial to cleanliness. This mentality needs to change.”
Regarding air pollution in Dhaka, Fazlur Rahman said: “When trucks carrying soil enter Dhaka, they scatter soil all over the roads. Another vehicle follows to spread it evenly. When this soil dries, it creates dust. Dhaka has been ranked as the most polluted city in recent days, and this is no surprise. This results from a lack of awareness and improper execution of our duties. We have all the systems in place, but for some reason, things aren’t working as they should.”
He further stressed the importance of changing perspectives, saying: “This is a new Bangladesh born of the people’s revolution. There is no room for failure here. We do not want to fail; we want to move forward. For this, we need to change our mindset. While people may have differing political ideologies, we must not forget that our salaries are paid from taxpayers’ money.”
During the event, the details of the NABWASA project were presented by Md Tahmidul Islam, Head of Technical Services of WaterAid Bangladesh.