Special Correspondent: Today is ‘World Water Day’. The day is celebrated on March 22 every year. The day is celebrated in Bangladesh like in other countries of the world. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave a message on this occasion. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said Various organizations and institutions have taken the initiative to observe the day through various programs. This year the theme of the day is “Accelerating Change to Solve the Water and Sanitation Crisis.
In 1992, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the official proposal to celebrate the first World Water Day was raised in Agenda 21 of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The first World Water Day was celebrated in 1993, and since then, the importance of observing this day has increased.
In his speech, the Prime Minister said Bangladesh is meeting the water needs of the growing population by taking into account water management, sanitation, agriculture, and industrial sectors in its progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. To meet the challenges of climate change and the risk of natural disasters, our government has taken measures to improve water infrastructure, preserve riverbanks, and protect river navigability through dredging, re-excavation of canals, maintenance of natural reservoirs, and construction of new reservoirs and barrages. At the same time, activities aimed at increasing public awareness about reclamation of riverside land, afforestation, eviction of illegal structures, and elimination of waterlogging are continuing.
Stating that skills, creativity, innovative thinking, and their proper application are essential to ensuring equitable access to water for every person in the country, the Prime Minister said that with collective efforts, we will be able to build ‘Smart Bangladesh,” i.e., the golden Bangladesh of the lifelong dream of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
In the speech, the UN Secretary General said that water is the source of life in our world. From health and nutrition to education and infrastructure, water is essential for human survival and well-being, as well as for economic development and the prosperity of nations. But every drop of this life source is subject to pollution, overuse, and waste. Meanwhile, by the end of this decade, it is estimated that the demand for water will increase by 40 percent compared to the supply. Climate change is seriously affecting the natural cycle of water. Pollution due to greenhouse gases is higher than ever, and the global temperature rise is reaching dangerous levels. As a result, water-related disasters, disease outbreaks, water shortages, and droughts are increasing. In addition, infrastructure, food production, and supply chains are being damaged. This year, the theme of World Water Day reminds us of the price that hundreds of millions of people have to pay due to these failures. These people are deprived of safe water and sanitation facilities.
The UN Secretary General also said that 25 out of every 100 people in the world now have to meet their overall water needs either by collecting water from open streams and ponds or by buying so-called safe water at high prices. 22 percent of people are defecating in the open or in unsanitary, dangerous, or broken latrines. Forty-four percent of the waste water is returned to nature in an untreated state. As a result, there is a serious threat to health and the environment. Let’s use 2023 as an opportunity to change and invest in protecting humanity’s lifeblood. We start working to ensure water security, sustainable management, and shared safe water for all.
