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Residents of East Kazipara and Shewrapara in Mirpur have endured persistent water shortages for the past two months. This ongoing crisis compels many families to purchase drinking water, rely on water tankers, and endure long waits to perform essential daily tasks like cooking, bathing, and washing.

Rajani Hanif Himu, a resident of East Kazipara, described the situation as so dire that her family is contemplating relocating. "We have to buy five litres of drinking water every two days. Water supply is interrupted several times a week, and even when it returns, it often smells bad," she said. Delowar Hossain, a building security guard, noted that contaminated water enters pipelines during rainfall, forcing their 14-family building to purchase a water tanker recently.

Momtaz Begum, caretaker of a tenement in East Kazipara, highlighted the daily struggle, with residents waiting hours for water. She blamed the proliferation of multi-storey buildings, suggesting their powerful pumps reduce pressure in the regular supply lines, disproportionately affecting those without private pumps. Local pharmacy owner Azharul Islam Akand reported a near doubling of diarrhea cases due to contaminated water, while resident Mahmudul Haque noted the crisis has worsened significantly in the last six months.

Mahmudul Haque also alleged that the local pump inadequately serves the East Kazipara area, primarily supplying the Kazipara Bus Stand. He claimed damaged pipelines allow contaminated water to mix with the supply during pressure drops, leading to illnesses. The shortage disrupts daily life, forcing residents to seek water from distant sources. Furthermore, Haque alleged an informal syndicate inflates tanker prices, with residents paying up to Tk 800 for a small tanker against an official rate of around Tk 300.

Dhaka WASA Executive Engineer (Zone-10) Asaduzzaman cited disruptions at the Bhakurta plant as the cause of intermittent shortages. The plant operates at 105 million liters per day against a 150 million liter capacity. Experts criticize the situation as a planning failure, stating utility planning has not kept pace with urban growth. They argue that relying on more groundwater pumps is unsustainable and advocate for treated surface water as a necessary solution.

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We have to buy five litres of drinking water every two days. Water supply is interrupted several times a week, and even when it returns, it often smells bad.