Ensure free drinking water at public places

The High Court in a verdict yesterday declared the access to pure drinking and usable water a fundamental right of the citizens, saying it is the state’s responsibility to ensure this right.

The court also directed the government to ensure pure drinking water for people without any cost at every important public place in the next one year. The public places include the courts, religious premises of worship, hospitals, railway stations, bazars and airports.

The HC also asked the state to take necessary measures to ensure pure drinking and usable water for every citizen at an affordable price within the next 10 years, said Deputy Attorney General Md Monjur Alam.

The bench of Justice Md Ashraful Kamal and Justice Kazi Waliul Islam came up with the directives after holding a hearing on the suomoto (voluntary) rule issued in 2020 in this regard.

In the verdict, they asked the LGRD ministry to submit a report to this court on the progress of implementing the directives in every year.

At the same time, the bench ordered the government to preserve all the waterbodies and sources of water so that those do not become dry, unsafe, or polluted.

Details of the HC verdict and observations will be known when the full text is released.

During the hearing, the HC heard opinions of three legal experts —  Manzill Murshid, Minhazul Haque Chowdhury and Mohammad Humaun Kabir Pallob — as amici curiae (friends of court) on this issue.

Pallob said if the directives of the HC are properly implemented, every citizen will get the benefit. People will be protected from water-borne diseases.