Call to ensure safe drinking water in Sidr, Aila-hit areas
State Minister for Labour and Employment Begum Mannujan Sufian yesterday said crisis of safe drinking water turned acute in the south-western coastal areas of the country after cyclonic storms Sidr and Aila hit the region in 2007 and 2009.
“The other name of water is life. But the people of south-western region are suffering from different diseases after drinking saline water. They have to purchase drinking water. So, we are now striving hard to ensure safe drinking water for them,” she said in her address as chief guest at the inaugural session of two-day Coastal Water Convention at the Public Hall auditorium in the city at 10:30am yesterday.
“We must ensure people's right to safe drinking water. A united effort by the people of all walks of life is needed for getting safe drinking water, particularly in the south-western region,” the state minister said.
AOSED (an organisation for socio-economic development) organised the convention in association with 43 other organisations including Khulna City Corporation, public universities, Khulna WASA, four upazila parishads, Water Aid Bangladesh and some development organisations of Khulna, Bagerhat and Satkhira districts.
AOSED has taken a joint initiative to organise Coastal Water Convention-2011 for providing a way out to solve water crisis in the southwest coastal region, said Executive Director of AOSED Shamim Arfeen who conducted the inaugural session of the convention.
Three technical sessions on issues relating to integrated water management in the south-western coastal belt, risk due to adverse impact of climate change and loss of rights of the people on water resource were arranged on the first day of the two-day convention.
City Mayor and chairperson of coastal water convention committee Talukder Abdul Khaleque presided over the inaugural session.
The session was attended, among others, by lawmakers Nani Gopal Mandol of Khulna-1 constituency, Sohrab Ali Sana of Khulna-6 and Begum Noor Afroze Ali of reserved seat of parliament, Vice Chancellor of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology Dr Md Alamgir, President of Khulna unit of Swadhinata Chikitshak Parishad Dr Sheikh Baharul Alam who is also central vice president of Bangladesh Medical Association, Water Aid Bangladesh Country Director Dr Md Khairul Islam, Managing Director of Khulna WASA Md Abdullah, Paikgachha upazila parishad Chairman Md Rashiduzzaman Morol and General Secretary of Dakope Upazila Water Right Committee Sheikh Juboraj.
Over 1500 people from south-western coastal belts joined the session.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments