Water withdrawal in upstream

Experts for measures to protect rivers

Leading water and environmental experts in the city have said that food security will remain a distant dream if Bangladesh does not ensure water security in the country.
“Water is a major component for food production. But our neighbour country is withdrawing water in the upstream pushing Bangladesh into desertification. The people of the country don’t understand how the country is moving on water scarcity,” Tauhidul Anwar Khan, former member of the Indo-Bangla Joint River Commission (JRC), said yesterday.
He further urged the people to raise their voice for water issues and to ensure a fair share of water for the country.
“The salinity of the Sundarban region has increased drastically due to construction of the Farakka barrage. Besides, the waterways have reduced to about 2,000 km from 24,000 km due to withdrawal of water in the upstream,” observed Dr S I Khan, former UN official on water and a noted environmental expert.
“Many rivers have died due to lack of water,” he said, adding that the reason behind it is the withdrawal of water by India in the upstream in clear violation of international laws.
“There are about 50 lakh tube wells across the country.
The ground water is not re-charging due to lack of normal flood, causing diversion of water in the upstream,” the water expert said.
The comments came during a ceremony held to confer the 2014 Water Journalism Fellowship awards and certificates offered by US-based Touching Souls International. The awards were given out at a simple ceremony at the Jatiya Press Club yesterday.
Former Vice-Chancellor of Jahangirnagar University Prof Jasim Uddin Ahmed, President of Touching Souls International Sayed Tipu Sultan, Convener of the Fellowship Committee and former editor of The New Nation Mostafa Kamal Majumder and Swadhin Bangla football team captain Zakaria Pintu also addressed the gathering.
Dr S I Khan further asked journalists to focus on the issues related to water to ensure that the government understood the real extent of the problem.
Prof Jasim Uddin Ahmed urged the government to keep provisions for guarantee and arbitration clauses before signing any water-related agreements in the future.
Speakers at the function underlined the need for more fellowship programmes to increase awareness among people regarding the importance of water in the life of the people of Bangladesh, the largest delta created by Himalayan rivers.
They also thanked Touching Souls International for offering the fellowships.
Sayed Tipu Sultan announced that there will be an increase in the number of fellowship in the coming year. “I am ready to help conduct research on water-related problems.

Water withdrawal in upstream

Experts for measures to protect rivers

Leading water and environmental experts in the city have said that food security will remain a distant dream if Bangladesh does not ensure water security in the country. Water is a major component for food production. But our neighbour country is withdrawing water in the upstream pushing Bangladesh into desertification. The people of the country dont understand how the country is moving on water scarcity, Tauhidul Anwar Khan, former member of the Indo-Bangla Joint River Commission (JRC), said yesterday. He further urged the people to raise their voice for water issues and to ensure a fair share of water for the country. The salinity of the Sundarban region has increased drastically due to construction of the Farakka barrage. Besides, the waterways have reduced to about 2,000 km from 24,000 km due to withdrawal of water in the upstream, observed Dr S I Khan, former UN official on water and a noted environmental expert. Many rivers have died due to lack of water, he said, adding that the reason behind it is the withdrawal of water by India in the upstream in clear violation of international laws. There are about 50 lakh tube wells across the country. The ground water is not re-charging due to lack of normal flood, causing diversion of water in the upstream, the water expert said. The comments came during a ceremony held to confer the 2014 Water Journalism Fellowship awards and certificates offered by US-based Touching Souls International. The awards were given out at a simple ceremony at the Jatiya Press Club yesterday. Former Vice-Chancellor of Jahangirnagar University Prof Jasim Uddin Ahmed, President of Touching Souls International Sayed Tipu Sultan, Convener of the Fellowship Committee and former editor of The New Nation Mostafa Kamal Majumder and Swadhin Bangla football team captain Zakaria Pintu also addressed the gathering. Dr S I Khan further asked journalists to focus on the issues related to water to ensure that the government understood the real extent of the problem. Prof Jasim Uddin Ahmed urged the government to keep provisions for guarantee and arbitration clauses before signing any water-related agreements in the future. Speakers at the function underlined the need for more fellowship programmes to increase awareness among people regarding the importance of water in the life of the people of Bangladesh, the largest delta created by Himalayan rivers. They also thanked Touching Souls International for offering the fellowships. Sayed Tipu Sultan announced that there will be an increase in the number of fellowship in the coming year. I am ready to help conduct research on water-related problems.