Local government, rural development and co-operatives minister Md Tajul Islam on Friday said that the inhabitants of the capital city were mostly rich who did not need subsidy from the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority.
‘Most people living in the capital are rich,’ Tajul Islam said, raising a question about the ethical grounds for giving subsidy to the rich after collecting taxes from the poor.
The LGRD minister made the remark while speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of a training workshop organised by City Reporters Forum at an auditorium of the Press Institute of Bangladesh, said a press release of the ministry issued on Friday.
He also questioned as to why the residents of Gulshan-Banani and those of Jatrabari or slums should pay the same tariff for water.
He said that they would fix area-wise water tariff and provide water to the lower-income groups living in the slums at a low price.
‘Dhaka city water tariffs will be raised by zone. The tariff at Gulshan and Banani will be higher while people living in the lower-income areas would receive water at comparatively lower rates. No subsidy will be given for water in Dhaka city,’ said Tajul Islam.
He said that area-specific tariff should be fixed not only for water but also for holding tax, gas, electricity and other services.
This minister, too, claimed that people in Bangladesh were in a good condition compared with other countries, adding that there is no scope to deny this.
He said that a worldwide unstable situation had resulted from the Covid pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and it had also impacted the country.
‘Food prices have increased following the fuel price hike, creating a bad situation for the people and the government is not denying it,’ he said, adding that the government is making all-out efforts so that people can be in a good condition.
Chaired by City Reporters Forum president Adilur Rahman, the event was attended, among others, by PIB director general Zafar Wazed, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists secretary general Dip Azad and Dhaka Reporters Unity president Nazrul Islam Mithu.
