“The UN conference, known as “Protection and Use of Transboundary Waters and International Lakes”, provides a legal and inter-of-contribution to the sustainable and equitable management of water resources.
Bangladesh, deeply attached to the river and Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) is a country defined by the river system for whom this step, There is an important initiative towards the progress of regional cooperation.
River systems, China, Nepal, Bhutan and India have met in Bangladesh, where it produces one of the most complex Delta in the world.
Water crisis
Bangladesh is struggling with many serious water crisis. About 5% of the country’s population is at high risk of floods – which is the second worldwide after Natherlands.
Also, 45% of the population is at the highest risk of river floods. 20-25% of the country is infected by floods every year and in the case of additional floods, the number has reached 60%.
In addition to these, more than 6 and a half people are deprived of safe sanitation services.
Climate change is further complicating these problems – such as irregular water flow, long -term drought, excess rainfall, increase in sea level and salt water dissolved in fresh water.
Bangladesh has always given priority to cooperation with its neighboring countries, taking it that sustainable water management is not possible only through national effort.
Bilateral systems like the Joint River Commission with India are already active, but the UN Convention membership provides the opportunity to adopt international best processes.
Syeda Rizwana Hassan, adviser to environment, forest and climate change in Bangladesh, said “Climate change, population growth and increasing demand of water – all of them reflect the urgent water management. We can learn from international examples by attending this conference, which can protect our future. “
Regional cooperation
Unse Welcoming the decision, Executive Secretary Tatiana Molsian said, “This is an important step towards regional cooperation under increasing pressure from the climate crisis.”
Bangladesh has been participating in this convention program since 2002. Bangladesh also participated in the tenth party meeting held in Slovenia in 2021.
After a national workshop held in Dhaka in March 2021, the decision was taken.
Unse Executive Secretary Tatiana Molsian describes the decision as “an important initiative in the climate crisis” towards regional cooperation.
Sonia Copele, the UN Water Convention Secretary, has called on other South Asian countries to join the platform and take opportunities for cooperation in December 2026, in preparation for the UN Water Conference in the United Arab Emirates.