Acute Water Shortage Sparks Protests and Supply Crisis in Mirpur
Photo Collected
Residents across Dhaka’s Mirpur area are facing a severe water crisis, forcing many to struggle daily for basic necessities such as cooking, bathing, and sanitation. The shortage, which has persisted for several days in neighborhoods including Shewrapara, Monipur, and Block 11, has compelled residents to purchase water from external sources, travel long distances to collect supplies, or seek refuge at the homes of relatives.
The current situation is exacerbated by mechanical failures at the Bhakurta Water Treatment Plant, which serves as a primary supply source for the region. According to Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) data, the facility typically supplies 120 million liters of water to Mirpur daily. However, a technical malfunction in the plant’s transformers and generators on June 20 caused production to plummet to 70 million liters. Despite subsequent repairs, the supply gap over three days totaled 90 million liters, placing immense pressure on areas already suffering from a structural imbalance between rising demand and limited supply.
বিজ্ঞাপন
Local officials attribute the long-standing shortfall to rapid urbanization. Following the launch of the metro rail, the proliferation of high-rise buildings in Shewrapara and Kazipara has led to a significant increase in population density without a corresponding upgrade to the water distribution infrastructure. Furthermore, Dhaka WASA Managing Director Aminul Islam noted that the current season is traditionally marked by a drop in groundwater levels, which has rendered many pumps incapable of operating at even half their standard capacity.
Frustration among the public reached a breaking point on Sunday afternoon, when more than 100 residents of Shewrapara blocked a major thoroughfare with buckets and water bottles. The protest lasted approximately 20 minutes and dispersed only after authorities promised a restoration of services by the night. Local police confirmed the demonstration and the subsequent negotiations with WASA officials.
বিজ্ঞাপন
WASA maintains that it is managing the crisis through a rationing system while addressing illegal water connections that have further strained the network. Additional complications arose from the extensive construction of the metro rail project, which placed significant stress on existing piping. As the utility company works to install new deep tube wells and replace aging infrastructure, officials have expressed hope that the water supply will stabilize within the next five to seven days.
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