World Water Day today

With the theme “Water and Climate Change”, the World Water Day is being observed in the country amid different programmes today (Monday) as elsewhere in the world.

The World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

An international day to celebrate freshwater was recommended at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro. The United Nations General Assembly responded by designating 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day.

The United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution by which 22 March of each year was declared World Day for Water, to be observed starting in 1993, in conformity with the recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) contained in Chapter 1.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages on the eve of the day.

The President, in his message, said water has a close connection with life while food security is largely dependent on water management.
“There is no alternative to ensuring availability of sufficient water in irrigation for agricultural production in Bangladesh,” he said.

Abdul Hamid hoped that Bangladesh will be able to combat the adverse effect of climate change through sustainable water management.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said water and sustainable development are interconnected in riverine Bangladesh.
River, cannel, haor, baor and other wetland have been playing a vital role in the people’s daily life as an essential element since the time immemorial, she added.

“I hope through observing the World Water Day 2020, nature, water and climate related awareness will be created among the people for development of our country,” Sheikh Hasina said.

She urged all to work together to transform the country into “Sonar Bangla” as dreamt by the greatest Bengali of all times and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by 2041 through implementing environment-friendly and sustainable plans.