The residents of Jurain in Dhaka led a rally protest rally against WASA demanding clean, drinkable water.
They demonstrated from Jurain to Shanir Akhra on Friday (May 17) with placards, chanting slogans and demanding compensation for the illness caused by the water.
“We want the state and the people to know that we want to be able to drink WASA water directly from the taps,” said Mizanur Rahman, convener of the protest.
He said that through the rally they wanted to show the state how the people are suffering.
They heavily condemned WASA’s silent role in the face of such backlash and suffering.
Muradpur resident Tamin Jamshed said that they have united because for the last ten years WASA has been supplying water that is nowhere near drinkable.
“We hope that WASA will give us clean water. Otherwise we’ll stop paying the bills. In fact we want compensation,” he said.
“We can neither drink the water, nor use it. We have to depend on the local mosque’s deep tubewell water,” said Rasel, a student.
“We are paying the bills but not getting safe water,” he said and added that the filthy water was causing hair fall and several types of skin diseases amongst the locals.