Donors urged to help develop water resources management

Speaking as chief guest at a seminar, he said the major water problem of Bangladesh is its shortage in dry season and surplus in rainy season- both of which cause huge economic losses.

The problem has been created as upper riparian country India controls the flows of most of the 54 rivers, which are the main sources of fresh water for Bangladesh, he added.

The seminar on 'Water Resources Management and Flood Control in Bangladesh' was organised jointly by Franco-Bangladesh Association of Scholars and Trainees (FBAST), Cultural Section of French Embassy and French Trade Commission at the Spectra Convention Centre in the city.

"Our water management policy dictates maximum use of surface water to ease the pressure on underground water, but it needs a huge fund," the minister said, adding that barrages might have to be constructed in Ganges, Brahmmaputra and Meghna basins to store water for lean season.

He said the level of underground water is going down in an alarming rate and it may have disastrous effects on environment and agriculture in future.

"We are still having better harvest just because of the irrigation projects of Water Development Board, high yielding varieties of paddy and thanks to hard labour of the farmers," he added.

The minister blamed India for not holding regular meeting of the Joint River Commission, which is why the water-related issues could not be resolved.

He also recalled the support of France during the liberation war in 1971 and the devastating floods in 1988 and hoped that such help would continue in future.

Asked on the minister's seeking assistance from the development partners, French Ambassador Jacques-Andre Costilhes, who was present as special guest at the seminar, said France alone cannot give any assistance for water management.

"There should be other financial institutions or donor agencies where we can participate to help develop water management of Bangladesh," he said, adding that France has enough expertise and technology in dealing such issues.

Asked if France would take any initiative in this regard, he said Bangladesh is a sovereign country and it should take its own decision.

"We can just help," he added.

On the Indian River Linking Project, the ambassador said this is a bilateral issue and it should be handled accordingly.

He, however, said it can also be an agenda of the Saarc and can be solved through it.

FBAST President Liaquat Ali Khan, Secretary General Md Serajuddin, and former state minister for Science and Technology Dr RA Ghani also spoke at the seminar followed by a technical session.