Rajshahi, June 30 (V7N) – As Bangladesh faces a relentless heatwave and widespread drought, the basic need for water has become a daily struggle in many regions. In the drought-stricken Bagha upazila of Rajshahi, one man has emerged as a beacon of hope. Ansar member Sagar Ali is selflessly delivering water door-to-door across multiple villages using his own resources, providing critical relief to those most affected.
 
On Monday afternoon around 4:00 PM, Sagar Ali was seen distributing water at Chak Singa Mor in Ward No. 8 of Arani Municipality. For over a week, he has been using his personal van equipped with a 1,000-liter water tank to supply clean water to households suffering from acute shortages. He is accompanied by a few fellow Ansar members, working together to deliver between 3,000 to 4,000 liters of water daily.
 
The situation in the region is dire. The Padma River along the southeastern border of Rajshahi’s Bagha and neighboring Charghat is nearly dry. Other rivers such as the Arani Baral and the Padma’s Murshidpur-Ishwardi branch have also turned lifeless. What were once fish-filled waters have now become fields used for cultivating paddy, wheat, and maize. As the water crisis deepens, groundwater levels continue to drop drastically across both the Barind tract and the lowland villages, further worsening the plight of local residents.
 
While wealthier households are installing deep tube wells to access underground water, the poor are left with few options—often forced to walk long distances to fetch water from community ponds or from the homes of those who can afford pumps. In response to this growing crisis, Sagar Ali took the initiative to act. “Water is life,” he said. “Helping people survive this crisis is a noble duty. That’s why I decided to use my own money and resources to bring water to those in need. This is not just a service—this is a responsibility.”
 
His humanitarian effort has earned praise from residents and local civil society members, who say he is doing what should have been done by authorities. “Sagar Ali is stepping in where the government has failed. His work is not only saving lives but also inspiring others,” said one local elder.
 
Nasir Uddin, Assistant Public Health Engineer of the area, acknowledged the worsening crisis. He stated that the rapid construction of private ponds has led many people to use deep tube wells to keep them filled, which in turn is causing groundwater levels to drop. “Normal hand tube wells are no longer working in many areas,” he said. “Only households with deep tube wells equipped with electric pumps are able to access water regularly. We recommend government intervention to install deep tube wells with electric motors in every village.”
 
As the region waits for long-term solutions, the self-driven actions of Sagar Ali serve as a powerful reminder of how individual compassion can provide immediate relief in times of crisis.
 
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