State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr Sheikh Faridul Islam on Friday said the government plans to provide rainwater harvesting tanks to every household in Bangladesh's coastal region in phases to help address the longstanding drinking water crisis.

He also announced plans to renovate government-owned ponds and convert them into freshwater reservoirs to ensure access to safe drinking water for coastal communities.

The state minister made the remarks while addressing a programme organised by the Climate Trust Fund to distribute rainwater harvesting tanks among low-income families at the Public Health Engineering Department premises in Rampal upazila of Bagerhat.

"There has been a severe shortage of drinking water in the coastal areas of Rampal and Mongla for a long time. To address this crisis, 3,000 water tanks are being distributed initially under the Climate Trust Fund. As part of that initiative, 82 tanks were distributed today," he said.

Faridul said the government was working on a long-term solution to ensure a reliable supply of safe drinking water in coastal areas.

"Government ponds will be renovated and converted into reserved freshwater reservoirs. Fish farming will not be allowed in these ponds so that local people can benefit from safe drinking water," he said.

Among others, Rampal Upazila Nirbahi Officer Tamanna Ferdousi, Executive Engineer of the Bagerhat Public Health Engineering Department Jayanta Mallick, Deputy Assistant Engineer of the Rampal Upazila Public Health Engineering Department Imran Hossain, Officer-in-Charge of Rampal Police Station Md Rajib Al Rashid, Rampal Upazila BNP President Hafizur Rahman Tuhin, former member secretary Kazi Zahidul Islam Zahid and local dignitaries attended the programme.