DIGHINALA, KHAGRACHHARI, June 23: More than 100 families in remote Babuchhara Union of Dighinala Upazila have been provided access to safe drinking water through the installation of a deep tubewell by the Dighinala Zone under the Khagrachhari 203 Infantry Division.
The initiative was implemented by the Dighinala Zone in the remote Bangalya Karuna Para area under Ward 7 of Babuchhara Union, where locals previously had to collect water from streams and natural sources.
The deep tube-well, installed beside a government primary school, was formally inaugurated on Monday morning by Dighinala Zone Commander Lt Col Md Al Amin.
Among others present at the inauguration were Babuchhara Union Parishad Chairman Gagan Bikash Chakma and local ward members, including female member Swagat Chakma.
Speaking at the event, Lt Col Al Amin said the army has provided safe drinking water facilities for more than 100 families in Bangalya Karuna Para and Bindukumar Karbari Para, two of the most remote areas of the union.
He said the area had long suffered from a severe shortage of safe drinking water and added that initiatives are underway to improve healthcare services and road connectivity, including the establishment of a community clinic.
Babuchhara UP Chairman Gagan Bikash Chakma said most wards in the union are remote and lack road connectivity, forcing residents to travel by river routes and depend on unsafe water sources.
Beneficiary Putili Chakma said villagers previously depended on river, stream and waterfall water for drinking, which was often unsafe due to iron contamination.
“Now the army has installed a solar-powered deep tube well, and we are finally getting clean drinking water,” she said.
Another resident, Purno Bala Chakma, thanked the army for the initiative but urged for better healthcare access, saying patients currently face high transport costs to reach medical services due to difficult terrain.
Local female ward member Swagat Chakma also praised the initiative, saying it has significantly improved the lives of residents in the remote area.
She added that the three wards remain highly inaccessible, with residents previously relying entirely on natural water sources.
Residents expressed gratitude to the army for the initiative, saying it has brought much-needed relief to the water-scarce hill community.
