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Bangladesh will distribute water storage tanks to coastal households in phases to improve access to safe drinking water, State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shaikh Faridul Islam announced.
Speaking at a distribution programme in Rampal Upazila, he said the initiative aims to help families conserve rainwater in regions where freshwater sources are scarce.
Faridul noted that coastal areas such as Rampal and Mongla have long suffered from acute drinking water shortages due to high salinity levels. Water from many tube wells in these areas is often unsafe for consumption.
To address the crisis, the government has begun distributing 3,000 water tanks under the Climate Trust Fund, with 82 tanks handed over during the event.
In addition to rainwater harvesting, the minister said authorities will excavate and restore government ponds, converting them into freshwater reservoirs. Fish farming will be restricted in these ponds to ensure they remain safe sources of drinking water.
He added that the government is working on long-term solutions to secure water supply for coastal communities, alongside broader efforts to improve living conditions and tackle the impacts of climate change.
At the programme, vulnerable families also received corrugated iron sheets, cash assistance, food supplies, and rainwater storage tanks as part of the support initiative.