Bangladesh leads other SAARC countries in sanitation and safe water access: State minister

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Bangladesh is ahead of the other six SAARC countries in sanitation and access to safe drinking water, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam has said.

He made the remarks in parliament on Monday while responding to a question from ruling party lawmaker Sherin Sultana, according to BSS.

The state minister said the government has launched new projects to ensure safe drinking water for all citizens. Initiatives are also underway to expand community-based and household-level access to safe water.

Currently, access to safe drinking water ranges from 74% to 88% across different parts of the country. The government is working to achieve full coverage through the implementation of new projects, he added.

In response to another question from National Citizen Party (NCP) lawmaker Atiqur Rahman Mujahid, Shahe Alam said a government project worth around Tk5,500 crore is being implemented to ensure safe drinking water in the Barind region.

Under the project, deep and shallow tube wells will be installed in every village across Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions by 2030. The initiative aims to ensure access to arsenic-free drinking water.

The state minister also said the government is taking necessary measures to address groundwater arsenic contamination in the region and involve local members of parliament in these efforts.