In comparison with Chattogram, Rajshahi and Khulna WASA, water price of Dhaka WASA is almost double. Dhaka WASA sells per unit (1000 litre) of water at Tk 15.28 for domestic use and Tk 42 for commercial use while Khulna WASA’s rates are Tk 8.98 and Tk 14 respectively, Chattogram WASA’s rates are Tk 13.02 and Tk 31.82 and Rajshahi WASA’s rates are Tk 6.81 and 13.62 respectively.

Almost 100 per cent water of Rajshahi WASA is collected from deep tube wells. Rajshahi WASA sources said the production cost of per unit water in Rajshahi WASA is around Tk 9.

Although Dhaka WASA has been increasing the price of water every year, it is not drinkable before purifying through boiling. Mizanur Rahman, a resident of the Jurain area in the capital, came to Dhaka WASA along with his family with a bottle of water, a jug, limes and a packet of sugar to make the MD realise the quality of the water WASA provides. However, he couldn’t meet the MD that day.

Asked about the new proposal to increase the price of water, he said, “The WASA has been raising the price of water every year which is not drinkable. The WASA should focus more on the quality of the water they provide. People nowadays do not protest in fear. Therefore, they can impose the burden of their expenses on the consumers quite easily.”

In 2019, Transparency International Bangladesh published a report titled “Dhaka Wasa: Challenges of Good Governance and Way Forward” regarding the discrepancies and corruption within Dhaka WASA and the shortcomings in their customer service.

It said that Dhaka WASA had failed to supply drinkable water through pipelines. Some 91 per cent of the consumers drink the water supplied by the WASA after boiling. The gas needed to boil the water costs Tk 3.22 billion every year.

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Originally Appeared Here