Dhaka: Local Government Minister Mr. Md Tajul Islam said that if each of our institutions can be self-supporting, reaching our national development goals will be easier.
Bangabandhu’s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s roadmap is to build a developed and prosperous Bangladesh by 2041, laying emphasis on strengthening various institutions, he said, Bangladesh can reach its desired goal only if institutional skills, capabilities, and discipline are ensured.
The golden Bangladesh of the father of the nation will be established only if every institution is accountable to the people and accountability is ensured.
He said these things in the speech of the chief guest at the Debt Service Liabilities or DSL check handing over ceremony of the 2023-24 financial year of Dhaka WASA in the meeting room of the local government department on Sunday (October 8) afternoon.
It was attended as a special guest by the secretary of the local government department, Muhammad Ibrahim, the guest of honor was the additional secretary of the Ministry of Finance. Mohammad Altaf Ul Alam and Dhaka WASA Managing Director Engineer Taqsem A. Khan presided over.
The local government minister said, that if we cannot make each institution self-supporting, if the responsibility has to be put on someone else’s shoulders, then there will be problems. Then it becomes difficult to reach the goal. It is very challenging.
Highlighting this example of repayment of loans received from the government for various projects of Dhaka WASA as an example of the institution’s capacity, the minister said that Dhaka WASA has taken loans to serve the residents of Dhaka city. Now the quality of water there should be fine. The price should also be reasonable. For example, we always talk about subsidies.
Mr. Md. Tajul Islam opposed the subsidy for WASA water at this time saying, we have many other welfare issues and projects where subsidy is more reasonable because it will improve the quality of life of many people. Still, if a subsidy has to be given, he thinks that poor and disabled people should get it. The minister questioned why the state would subsidize the water bills of rich and able people. He also said that we should avoid such a mentality.
He said I am consciously saying that the subsidiary could not be the right process (subsidy cannot be the right process). Why will the government give subsidies? The government is collecting revenue to fulfill the aspirations of the common man. If we give the subsidy now, then to reach the target we need to take up many more projects, do many more works, and make many people’s lives full of happiness and peace, we will not be able to do that.
He said I drink a bottle of water for 30 taka, but whenever it comes to paying the price of water, I cannot pay 15-20 taka for 1000 liters. I’m afraid I have to disagree with this. You buy water for 10 rupees and consume it. If you say now, not everyone eats. But the maximum number of people buy water with money, otherwise, how do so many water industries work? Every day, I see millions of bottles of water going to different places in covered vans.
The local government minister said that any tax including gas, electricity, and holdings is necessary for state management. It is used all over the world. Countries that are able to collect more revenue, those countries are able to develop more. How will internal resource mobilization be? If I can’t raise internal resources, how can I mobilize?
The minister said, I am saying, divide the region and give 1000 liters of water in Gulshan at fifty rupees. I live in Gulshan; we will pay fifty rupees. One thousand liters of water will be fifty rupees, it is not much. You earn more, and you cut back on the Jatrabari, where the low-income people live. Our washer also did seminars on MD.
Tajul Islam said that 60 percent of people in Dhaka city did not get water, and now 100 percent of people are getting water. So, do not admit that? 100% electrification has been done in Bangladesh. Today there has been unprecedented development of communication in rural areas. Is there any sector where there is no development?
