Dhaka:Bangladesh is leading the other six SAARC countries in terms of sanitation and access to safe drinking water, according to State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Mir Shahe Alam. He made this statement in parliament today.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Shahe Alam announced that the government has launched new projects to ensure all citizens have access to safe drinking water. He highlighted ongoing efforts to expand community-based and household-level safe water facilities while responding to a question from ruling party lawmaker Sherin Sultana.
The state minister noted that access to safe drinking water currently ranges from 74 percent to 88 percent across various parts of the country. He stated that the government aims for full coverage by implementing these new projects.
In response to a query from NCP lawmaker Atiqur Rahman Mujahid, Shahe Alam detailed a government project worth approximately Taka 5,500 crore focused on ensuring safe drinking water in the Barind region. This initiative involves installing both deep and shallow tube wells in all villages of the Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions by 2030 to provide arsenic-free safe drinking water.
The state minister further mentioned that the government is taking necessary steps to address arsenic contamination challenges in the region's groundwater and plans to involve local parliament members in these initiatives.