A writ petition was filed on Monday with the High Court seeking its directives upon the respondents on the decision of Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) to hike water tariff by 25 per cent from April 01 this year.
Advocate Tanvir Ahmed, a Supreme Court lawyer, submitted the petition through email as a public interest litigation to the High Court, and also prayed to the court to declare Dhaka Wasa's move illegal.
Citing from the petition, the lawyer said that Dhaka Wasa had increased the water tariff by 5.0 per cent on September 01 last year.
It has further increased the water tariff by 25 per cent since April 01 this year by a notification issued on February 26, which was reported in different newspapers, he said.
The advocate said most of the countrymen are now facing serious financial crisis and amid coronavirus pandemic, increasing the water tariff is not only illegal but also a heartless act.
Wasa can increase the water tariff by only 5.0 per cent in consultation with the government as per section 22 of the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority Act, 1996, the writ petitioner added.
Tanvir said the High Court is yet to fix a date for holding hearing on his petition.
Local Government secretary, law secretary, Dhaka Wasa and some others have made respondents in the writ petition.
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