World Water Day will be observed in the country today as elsewhere in the globe.
This year’s World Water Day theme is ‘Groundwater-making the invisible visible’.
President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the eve of the day.
The President, in his message, said the role of a proper and planned water resource management is very important for achieving self-sufficiency in food as well as the overall development of the country.
The use of groundwater is gradually increasing for farming and household works, he said, adding that a coordinated and proper management of surface and underground water for preservation of underground water reservoir and maintenance its quality.
The President said food production, environment and people’s health face risk due to climate change and uncertainty of getting water during dry season across the globe. At the same time, heavy rains, floods and water stagnation are also mounting people’s sufferings and damaging assets, he said, adding that for this reason, the government has taken steps to dredge rivers, excavate canals, preserve natural water reservoirs, create new reservoirs and build barrages.
“I think these steps of the government would play very positive role in proper water resource management of the government,” Abdul Hamid added.
In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said ground water is the largest source of fresh water of the country and supply of drinking water, sanitation, farming and industrial activities depend on such water.
Groundwater is being used massively due to a rise in use of water, she said, adding that moreover, overall water source faces pressure because of water pollution and climate change.
The Premier said the Awami League government has already taken different development programmes to control floods, prevent river erosions, recovery of land and remove water-loggings to protect groundwater, which have been playing positive role for improving the life standard of the people.
She said her government has formulated Bangladesh Delta Plan-2100 aiming to build a delta tolerant to climate change impacts and in this plan necessary instructions have been to demarcate regions of fresh groundwater and control the use of such water.
“With the implementation of this plan, Bangladesh would achieve the status of an upper-middle-income country by 2030 and a developed-prosperous country by 2041,” she added.
“I hope that proper implementation of plans and proper water resource management in line with the Bangladesh Delta Plan-2100 would help build a Sonar Bangle as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” said the prime minister.
World Water Day is held annually on March 22 as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution by which March 22 of each year was declared World Day for Water, to be observed starting in 1993, in conformity with the recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) contained in Chapter 18 (Fresh Water Resources) of Agenda 21.
