Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Thursday opposed the government’s move to increase the water tariff of Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa), saying it will be an anti-people decision. “If the water tariff is increased, the suffering of people will worsen further. So, it won't be justified to raise the prices of water in any way,” he said. The Jatiya Party Chairman also said the Dhaka Wasa’s proposal of increasing the water of water by 20 per cent is not acceptable in any way. “Increasing water tariff will be an anti-people decision.” He came up with the remarks while addressing a meeting of Jatiya Party’s additional secretaries general at party chairman’s Banani office. GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, said many people have lost their jobs due to the Covid pandemic. “The number of unemployed, who lost their jobs and businesses, in the country is now several crores. In such a reality, ordinary people are struggling to make ends meet,” he observed. The Jatiya Party chief also said people are going through a tough time to cope with the growing price hike in essential commodities. He said common people have an allegation that they are not getting enough water from Dhaka Wasa despite paying water bills every month. “Many people also complained that the water of Wasa is dirty, stinky and not drinkable.”

A day after a hike in power tariffs, Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) on Friday raised the water tariff, dealing a double blow to consumers.   It issued a notice hiking the water tariff for both residential and commercial users.   The price of per unit (1,000 litres) of water has been fixed at Tk 14.46 from the existing Tk 11.57, a rise by 24.97 percent, for residential users while Tk 40 from the current Tk 37.04, up by 9.94 percent, for commercial consumers.   The new rates will come into effect on April 1, the notice said.   This was the 2nd water tariff hike in a span of eight months.