The Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) has called for an urgent meeting with researchers this coming Sunday following widespread social media concern regarding a report identifying pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and harmful chemical pollutants in the city’s water supply.
The Managing Director of Dhaka WASA has requested the research team to present their full report and related documents to explain their methodology and results in detail.
Abdul Kader, the Public Relations Officer for WASA, confirmed to the TIMES of Bangladesh that the authorities moved into action after information from the study went viral last Wednesday. He noted that the next course of action will be determined following the discussions scheduled for Sunday.
The study was a collaborative effort between Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University and Umea University in Sweden. Although the findings regarding “Chemical Contamination in Water” were originally presented at a seminar in the capital last November—with WASA officials in attendance—significant public discussion only ignited after former government official Mahbub Kabir Milon posted about the issue on his verified Facebook page last Wednesday.
According to the researchers, water samples were collected from eight zones under Dhaka WASA and tested in Swedish laboratories. The tests identified the presence of PFAS, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals, which are classified as carcinogenic chemical contaminants. While the report was previously sent to the then-Chief Adviser and a committee was formed to investigate, no further steps were taken until the issue was highlighted on Facebook by former government official Mahbub Kabir Milan last Wednesday.
Abdul Kaiyum, Chairman of the Department of Agricultural Chemistry at SAU, confirmed they are preparing the necessary documents for Sunday’s meeting. He explained that the initial research was limited to “grab sampling” from only eight zones.
“If Dhaka WASA and the relevant authorities had approved an in-depth study, we could have tested water samples from 800 locations,” Professor Kaiyum said, noting that more detailed insights and solutions could have been provided. He further revealed that the expanded research could have been completed using international funding and expertise, but the project stalled due to a lack of interest from the authorities.
