Speaker urges regional ties to tackle Asia’s growing water crisis

“The water crisis has become so severe that for some countries including Bangladesh it has emerged as a matter of life and death,” the Speaker said during a courtesy meeting with a high-level South Korean delegation led by Ha Sang Je, Secretary-General of the Asia National Assembly Water Consultative Board (AAWC), at his office at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

He said crisis has become particularly acute in South Asian countries including Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.

Highlighting Bangladesh’s longstanding efforts to secure a fair share of transboundary waters, the Speaker said the country has been engaged in discussions with neighbouring India since independence on water-sharing issues.

During the meeting, Ha Sang Je sought the Speaker’s support in encouraging Bangladeshi lawmakers to join the AAWC and contribute to global efforts aimed at addressing water-related challenges.

He also invited the Speaker to attend the organisation’s annual conference scheduled to be held in Laos in 2026.

The Speaker thanked AAWC leaders for their continued efforts since 2019 to address water-related issues through a legal and institutional framework.

He said he would recommend that members of the Bangladesh Parliament take part in the legislative initiatives launched by the AAWC which seeks to involve parliamentarians across Asia in tackling water security challenges.

The Speaker also assured that a delegation of Bangladesh would participate in the upcoming AAWC annual conference in Laos.

The AAWC is an inter-parliamentary platform comprising lawmakers from various Asian countries.

It works to strengthen legislative and policy cooperation on water security, climate change, water management and sustainable development, reports UNB.