A multimillion-taka government project aimed at resolving the drinking water crisis in Bandarban municipality and four upazilas has become a major source of public frustration. Despite being inaugurated four to five years ago, residents of Thanchi and Naikhongchhari have yet to receive a single drop of water from the treatment plants built under the initiative. The project, launched in 2022 with an estimated cost of Tk 44.25 crore, included construction of water treatment plants in several upazilas, but most remain locked and unused.

Investigations revealed that each project initially received around Tk 2.71 crore, but costs ballooned through repeated revisions, with the Naikhongchhari project alone now costing about Tk 9 crore. Locals accused officials and contractors of collusion, budget manipulation, and siphoning public funds. Several contractors and firms were repeatedly linked to major development works in the district.

Officials cited land acquisition issues, material theft, and other complications as reasons for the delay. The Public Health Engineering Department acknowledged that the projects could not be inaugurated due to these problems, leaving the multimillion-taka facilities idle and deteriorating.