In the quiet alleys of Kabir Colony, amid the everyday hum of life in Ward 17, Shathi Begum stands by a new water point, a silent testament to a battle she has fought for decades. At 60, she carries the weight of experience—years of fetching water, rationing every drop, and choosing between necessities. But today, she no longer bears the burden alone.
For years, Shathi and her daughter lived in a constant struggle for clean drinking water. Their modest home relied on an inconsistent supply from the Chattogram Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (CWASA), water so rich in iron that it was undrinkable. The rust-coloured stains on their white school uniforms were more than just an inconvenience; they were a mark of exclusion, a silent force keeping her daughter from attending school.
“My daughter was embarrassed. She refused to go to school because her uniform turned reddish from washing. I felt helpless,” Shathi recalls.
With her husband working in Dhaka as a CNG auto-rickshaw driver, sending home around BDT 15,000 per month, their household budget left little room for alternatives. Yet, necessity demanded it—they spent BDT 1,000 a month to buy safe drinking water, cutting into funds meant for food, education, and the small joys of life.
Then, relief arrived in the form of a WSUP-installed water point, a project designed to bring clean and affordable water to communities like Shathi’s. Now, their water bill has plummeted to BDT 100-200 per month, savings that have transformed their lives. With the extra money, Shathi can buy fresh, nutritious food, a new school uniform for her daughter, and—most importantly—a sense of dignity.
“You do not know how beneficial this water point has been for us. I only wish we had it earlier, when my daughter needed it most,” she says, shaking her head with a mix of gratitude and regret.
Beyond the financial relief, the impact of clean water ripples through the community. Health has improved, waterborne diseases have faded, and a sense of unity has grown. The water point, operational five days a week, has become more than just an access point—it has become a meeting place, a symbol of shared progress.
Shathi hopes her story will serve as a call to action. “No one should struggle for water. If we all fight together, we can ensure that everyone has access to safe and clean water,” she says, her voice filled with quiet determination.
Shathi Begum’s story is more than a personal victory—it is a testament to the resilience of women across Bangladesh, the silent warriors who fight for their families, their communities, and a future where clean water is not a privilege but a right.