Dialogue urgent to solve trans-border water crisis
International conference told
A two-day international conference on “Water Resources of South Asia: Conflict to Cooperation†began in the capital yesterday, with particular emphasis on strong political will and continuous dialogues among the countries to solve trans-border water crisis.
The ongoing water crisis in the subcontinent has to be solved through negotiations and cooperation, not conflicts, to ensure water for all, Environment and Forests Minister Hasan Mahmud told the inaugural session of the conference at Dhaka University senate building.
He said conflicts between Bangladesh and India over water sharing has reduced recently because of dialogues, and such conflicts still existed among countries across the world.
An integrated water management system for Bangladesh and India should be put into place, he said, as the two countries share 54 rivers and conflicts are likely to arise over sharing of some of those rivers' water.
The minister said if political leaders felt that the people living in the downstream areas of the common rivers have an equal right to water like the upstream people, they would extend their cooperation.
The use of water has increased globally due to economic development, but a single drop of water has not increased since the beginning of the Earth, he added.
Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa) and Bangladesh Environment Network (BEN) are jointly hosting the event.
At a plenary session, Information Minister Hasanul Huq Inu underscored the need for proper implementation of the bilateral treaties signed among South Asian nations and signing of multilateral agreements to save the region's rivers.
A fair water management can help solve water crisis in South Asia and reduce deaths and harms to the environment, he said.
Prof SM Nazrul Islam, vice chancellor of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), said Bangladeshi rivers are facing threats now and that the water crisis would become extreme in future if the rivers are not saved from pollution and encroachment through enforcing laws.
Bapa President ASM Shahjahan; BEN member M Khalequzzaman; Chairman of Conference Organising Committee Prof Nazul Islam; Prof Gopal S Chinton of Nepal's Trivuban University; Kelly Alley of Auburn University, USA; and Douglas Hill of University of Otago, New Zealand, also spoke on the occasion.
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