The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Experts at a seminar in the city said mindset is our main obstacle to the development in the country. If we find any problem, without trying to solve it we rather invite others to do it. We should change our mindset regarding water management.

Public participation is necessary to develop present water management system. We should keep in mind that the water management should be informative, they said.

The seminar on 'Water Resources Management in Bangladesh: Problems and Prospects' was held at Dhaka Reporters Unity organised by Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) to observe the World Water Day.

Prof Muzaffar Ahmed, President of BAPA, presided over the meeting, while Prof M Firoz Ahmed of BUET presented keynote paper.

Dr Quazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmed, President of Bangladesh Economic Association, Eng Mashrur-ul-Haque Siddiqui Bir Uttam, former member-director of Water Development Board, Eng Emaduddin Ahmed, Executive Director of Institute of Water Modelling, Zakir Hossain, Chief Executive of Nagorik Uddyog, among others, spoke at the seminar.

Speakers said there are 57 sources of small and large rivers around the country. Of them, three main sources are - Ganges-Padma, Brahmaputra-Jamuna and Barak-Meghna. The building of barrages and dams over the following sources are creating worse impact everyday.

Water pollution is being created due to various activities by human beings. Of them, sewerage, industrial and solid wastes are main causes for river and water pollution. Due to water pollution diarrhoea, typhoid, hepatitis and skin diseases are occurring elsewhere in the country. Polluted and contaminated water are causing mosquito-borne diseases also, they said.

They urged the government to make a coordinated plan for ensuring safe drinking water in the country.

They also urged the government to make mandatory waste treatment plant for industries and increase coordination between waste management system and government agencies.