Agency Name: | Rajshahi Water Supply and Sewerage Authority |
Native Name A: | রাজশাহী পানি সরবরাহ ও পয়ঃনিষ্কাশন কর্তৃপক্ষ |
Jurisdiction: | Government of Bangladesh |
Headquarters: | Wasa Bhavan, Shalbagan, Rajshahi |
Parent Department: | Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives |
Parent Agency: | Water Supply and Sewerage Authority |
Chief1 Name: | Md. Zakir Hossain |
Chief1 Position: | Managing Director |
Rajshahi Water Supply and Sewerage Authority, commonly known as Rajshahi WASA or RWASA 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.[1]
The first water supply system in Rajshahi was installed in 1937 under the municipality corporation management.[2]
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.[3] The project was significantly delayed and the government identified it as a priority for 2018.[4]
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.[5] The government sought a loan of US$276 million from China to build the plant for WASA in 2020.[6] I eventually signed an agreement with a Chinese company to build the purification plant.[7]
Rajshahi WASA built water booths financed by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit.[8] 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.[9] [10] This decision faced criticism based on the poor quality water supplied by the agency.[11] It signed an agreement with Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank so that its customers can pay their bills at the bank.[12]