Speakers at a programme Saturday said unplanned and uncontrolled use of water resources will lead to severe water crisis and disaster in Bangladesh as demand for water is increasing for household, irrigation and industrial purposes.
They also emphasised the importance of proper and well-planned utilisation of water to ensure its sustainable development. Otherwise it will create severe water scarcity in future.
The process of planning and managing water resources requires a comprehensive and integrated analysis of relevant hydrological, topographical, social, political, economic, environmental and institutional factors across all related water-using sectors, they said at a press conference held at National Press Club ahead of World Water Day that falls on March 22.
Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE), Policy Support Unit, United Nations Information Centre in Dhaka, UNICEF, World Bank, Oxfam, Bangladesh WASH Alliance and NGO Forum for Public Health jointly organised the programme.
This year's theme of World Water Day is Water and Sustainable Development.
Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) deputy director (groundwater hydrology) Anwar Zahid presented a paper on Water and Sustainable Development and existing situation of Bangladesh.
Quoting a survey conducted by BUET, he said Bangladesh economically suffered loss of Tk 446.33 billion a year due to manmade environmental disasters while the amount of loss caused by water pollution is Tk 73.64 billion.
The Buriganga, Shitalakkha and Bangshi rivers are fulfilling respectively by 56,000; 43,000 and 31,000 kg BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand) every day through domestic and industrial waste.
He pinpointed the water and sustainable development nexus in Bangladesh's perspective. He drew attention upon the severe water crisis that Bangladesh would be facing within two to three decades as a consequence of not concentrating on the sustainable use of water.
Bangladesh will face challenge in retaining its development growth in contrast with meeting increasing water demand for food, energy and industrial production.
He argued that an additional 60 per cent food grain is to be produced by 2050 to meet the demand of increasing global population. This ratio is 100 per cent for developing counties like Bangladesh.
Twenty per cent of the total water available is used for industrial purposes. Demand for water for industrial purposes will increase to 400 per cent by 2050.
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Proper use of water to ensure its sustainable dev stressed
FE Report | Published: March 22, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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