Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mohammad Tajul Islam expressed the hope that the average per capita income of the people of the country will exceed three thousand dollars by this year.
He made the remark in his speech as the chief guest at the 'Bill Collection Award' presentation ceremony organized by Dhaka WASA at a city hotel on Sunday.
"Our average income has grown significantly in the last decade. When Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina came to power in 2009, our income was below 700. In the last one decade, our per capita income has risen to 2,054. Hopefully, it would increase to three thousand dollars this year,” he said.
Mohammad Tajul Islam said Dhaka WASA has acquired the capacity to supply water in excess of the demand of city dwellers in the capital. The government has been working tirelessly to meet the water needs of people across the country, including setting up water treatment plants in Chittagong, Rajshahi and Khulna.
Several initiatives have been taken and work is underway to provide quality water to the people of Dhaka. Pipelines for water supply are very old and mostly unusable. Now these are being replaced with better quality pipes, added the minister.
He further said that in 1996, Dhaka WASA was able to supply 60 percent water of the total demand of the capital. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been working to improve water quality and increase supply during her rule.
“Of these, Sayedabad Water Treatment Plant Phase-1 and 2 have been completed. Now the construction work of Sayedabad Phase-3 is going on. As a result of such development work, Dhaka WASA has already been able to supply 100pc water to city-dwellers,” he said.
There are many complaints against the WASA. So, Tajul Islam directed the WASA authorities to be more responsible in resolving the allegations.
The minister said, “The current government is working with equal priority to all sectors including power, education, health, communication and agriculture. The prime minister has set a target of 2041 to reach the mark of a developed country.
Already food shortages are dealt with and 100pc electricity services are provided. Work is in progress to transform the country into digital Bangladesh. If everyone works together, it is possible to meet the target of a developed country before 2041, added the minister.
The event was chaired by Dhaka WASA Managing Director Taqsem A Khan. Additional Secretary Local Government Department Muhammad Ibrahim and Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Prof Shibli Rubaiyat-ul-Islam addressed the function as special guests
A total of 34 banks and three mobile banks were awarded crests and certificates for their special contribution to WASA bill collection during the event.
