Rajshahi WASA
{{Short description|Service Agency}}
{{Infobox government agency
| agency_name = Rajshahi WASA
| native_name_a = রাজশাহী পানি সরবরাহ ও পয়ঃনিষ্কাশন কর্তৃপক্ষ
| native_name_r =
| seal =
| seal_width = 200px
| seal_caption =
| logo =
| formed = {{start date and age|df=yes|2011|3|10}}
| image =
| preceding2 =
| dissolved =
| superseding =
| jurisdiction = Rajshahi
| headquarters = Wasa Bhavan, Shalbagan, Rajshahi
| employees =
| budget =
| type =
| parent_department =
| parent_agency = Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives
| chief1_name =
| chief1_position = Managing Director
| chief2_name =
| chief2_position =
| website = {{URL|rajshahiwasa.portal.gov.bd}}
}}
Rajshahi Water Supply and Sewerage Authority, commonly known as Rajshahi WASA or RWASA ({{Langx|bn|রাজশাহী ওয়াসা}}) is a Bangladesh government service agency under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives responsible for providing water and sewerage facilities to residents of Rajshahi.{{cite news |script-title=bn:রাজশাহী ওয়াসার নতুন পানির মূল্য কার্যকর হচ্ছে |url=https://www.newagebd.net/article/161611/new-water-price-of-rajshahi-wasa-comes-into-effect |trans-title=New Water Price of Rajshahi WASA comes into effect|work=New Age |language=bn |access-date=2 February 2022}}
History
The first water supply system in Rajshahi was installed in 1937 under the municipality corporation management.{{Cite web |title=At a glance |url=https://rajshahiwasa.portal.gov.bd/site/pag./1c18b4ce-f69c-4250-8135-9e0da184c6eb/- |access-date=24 July 2022 |website=Rajshahi WASA}}
Rajshahi WASA started operations on 10 March 2011.
The government of Bangladesh signed an agreement with China to finance the building of a surface water purification plant for Rajshahi WASA in 2014.{{Cite news |date=2014-06-11 |title=MoU signed for building tunnel under Karnaphuli |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/mou-signed-for-building-tunnel-under-karnaphuli-28033 |access-date=2022-07-24 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}} The project was significantly delayed and the government identified it as a priority for 2018.{{Cite news |last1=Ahmad |first1=Reaz |last2=Byron |first2=Rejaul Karim |date=2017-11-15 |title=China-Funded Projects: Dhaka seeks to speed up deals |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/china-funded-projects-dhaka-seeks-speed-deals-1491319 |access-date=2022-07-24 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}
In October 2018, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council approved 40.65 billion taka for the construction of a water purifying plant that will have a 200 million liter of water per day.{{Cite news |date=2018-10-12 |title=Ecnec's flurry of project approval continues |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/economy/news/ecnecs-flurry-project-approval-continues-1646014 |access-date=2022-07-24 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}} The government sought a loan of US$276 million from China to build the plant for WASA in 2020.{{Cite news |last1=Byron |first1=Rejaul Karim |last2=Chakma |first2=Jagaran |date=2020-09-23 |title=Chinese loan deals for four projects hopefully this year |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/chinese-loan-deals-four-projects-hopefully-year-1965957 |access-date=2022-07-24 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}} I eventually signed an agreement with a Chinese company to build the purification plant.{{Cite news |date=2021-05-20 |title=Rajshahi Wasa starts expanding water supply network to marginal communities |url=https://archive.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/2021/05/20/rwasa-starts-expanding-water-supply-network-to-marginal-communities |access-date=2022-07-24 |work=Dhaka Tribune}}
Rajshahi WASA built water booths financed by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit.{{Cite news |title=Drinking water booths at Rajshahi too |url=https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/drinking-water-booths-at-rajshahi-too |access-date=2022-07-24 |work=Prothom Alo |language=en}} The booths allow access to clean water to consumers and are managed by a US based nonprofit, Drinkwell.
Rajshahi WASA tripped their rates for water on 1 February 2022 as per decision of Managing Director Md Zakir Hossain.{{Cite news |date=2022-02-01 |title=Rajshahi WASA triples water tariff from today |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/utilities/news/rajshahi-wasa-triples-water-tariff-today-2952016 |access-date=2022-07-24 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2022-02-02 |title=Rajshahi Wasa triples water tariff |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/utilities/news/rajshahi-wasa-triples-water-tariff-2952576 |access-date=2022-07-24 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}} This decision faced criticism based on the poor quality water supplied by the agency.{{Cite news |title=New water price of Rajshahi WASA comes into effect |url=https://www.newagebd.net/article/161611/new-water-price-of-rajshahi-wasa-comes-into-effect |access-date=2022-07-24 |work=New Age |language=en}} It signed an agreement with Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank so that its customers can pay their bills at the bank.{{Cite news |title=RAKUB, Rajshahi WASA ink deal {{!}} Daily Sun {{!}} |url=https://www.daily-sun.com/printversion/details/614543/RAKUB-Rajshahi-WASA-ink-deal |access-date=2022-07-24 |work=Daily Sun |language=en}}