Health advocates demand increased WASA allocation in FY24

Health advocates and rights activists have called on the government to increase allocation for all four Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) agencies in the country in the upcoming fiscal year 2023-24 (FY24).

Speaking at a joint press conference organised by national, international non-government organisations in Dhaka on Tuesday, they also urged authorities concerned to prioritise reducing spatial inequality in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) budget allocation in the next budget.

At present four government-owned WASA - Dhaka WASA, Chattogarm WASA, Khulna WASA and Rajshahi WASA - are operating within their own respective geographic areas. Water supply and sanitation in the remaining major cities are operated by the respective city corporations.

Organisers of the joint press conference distributed a concept paper on “Key Findings from the WASH Budget Analysis Study” by PPRC on the occasion.