No water at Monirampur upazila parishad building, officials and service seekers suffer

Officials, employees and service seekers have been suffering as the water supply remained cut off all day at the five-storey upazila parishad building in Monirampur, Jashore.

Today, Sunday, the same problem hit those taking part in a training programme for Family Card data collectors. With no water in the washrooms, some could not wash their hands and faces, and some went home without eating lunch.

The training for Family Card data collectors ran from 9am to 4pm today on the fifth floor of the upazila parishad building. Thirty-six trainees from four unions of the upazila took part.

A data collector who attended the training said he went to the washroom to wash his hands and face before lunch during the midday break but found no water. He later went home without eating.

Alamgir Hossain, the upazila social services officer in charge of the training, said, 'We did not know beforehand about the water crisis at the upazila parishad building. We came to know after the training began in the morning. The trainees were advised to use the washroom of my office if needed. If there is still no water tomorrow, Monday morning, arrangements will be made to hold the training elsewhere.'

The five-storey upazila parishad building houses at least seven offices, including those of the upazila engineer, project implementation officer, accounts officer, cooperative officer, youth development officer and fisheries officer. Every floor has separate washrooms, and officers' rooms have washrooms too. But with the water supply cut off, officials, employees and service seekers in all these offices are suffering.

Inquiries have found that the water crisis in the building is not new. The supply stops from time to time. Although the offices concerned have informed the UNO's office several times, no permanent solution has come.

Upazila project implementation officer Selim Khan said water was not available in the washrooms last week either, not just today.

Sarowar Hossain, a sub-assistant engineer of the same office, said, 'In the week before last week, there was no water for four to five days in a row. We had to go to another building to meet our needs.'

Upazila engineer Ayakub Ali acknowledged that the building has had a water problem for a long time. He said his office staff are carrying water up from below to meet their needs. Ayakub Ali said there was no water problem when the building was four storeys high. After one more floor was added to make it five storeys, lifting water to the upper floors became a problem. A single irrigation pump used to lift water to the greater height often breaks down.

Monirampur UNO Samrat Hossain said, 'After learning about the water crisis, I have arranged to send a mechanic. I hope the problem will be solved soon. Alongside that, steps will be taken through the municipality to solve the water problem permanently.'