Bangladesh Water Integrity Network (BAWIN), NGO Forum for Public Health, and Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum (BHRF) jointly organized a national roundtable discussion on ‘Water Integrity Management: Progress, Challenges and Way forward, on January 02, at the Dhaka Reporters Unity in collaboration with Water Integrity Network (WIN). The Honorable Member of Parliamentary Standing Committee (Women and Children Affairs) Professor Dr. Md Abdul Aziz MP was present as the Chief Guest of the roundtable discussion. The discussion was chaired by Mr. Shahidul Hassan, Chair of BAWIN.

Mr. Rashed Rabbi, President, Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum moderated the roundtable discussion where Mr. S.M.A. Rashid, Executive Director, NGO Forum for Public Health delivered the introductory speech. Mr. Kazi Monir Mosharof, Project Focal of Integrity Management was present as the key-note speaker.

 

Dr. Anwar Zahid, Director, Ground Water Hydrology, Bangladesh Water Development Board, Mr. Md. Abdullah, Managing Director of Khulna WASA, Mr. Tuhinur Alam, Deputy Managing Director of Rajshahi WASA, Mr. Ariful Islam, Project Director of Chattogram WASA were present as the key discussant. The Social Development Expert of DPHE, Government officials, Researchers, NGO/CSO representatives, media personnel, development partners representatives were also present at the roundtable discussion.

 

S. M A. Rashid said, to ensure safe water and sanitation for all by 2030 and to achieve SDGs, it is necessary to establish integrity practices align with the National Integrity Strategy. He called for the learning and good practices of integrity management to be spread in the water sector.

 

Dr. Anwar Zahid, Director of Bangladesh Water Development Board, said, “Over time, the demand for water in agricultural and industrial sectors is increasing but the quantity of usable water is not. The Bangladesh water act has fixed the priorities of water usage, but the law is not observed properly”. Dhaka’s groundwater level has dropped by around 75 meters in the last 50 years, but still we have allowed the use of groundwater in hundreds of industries around the capital, which is not permitted in the Water act. That is why water integrity is very important” Anwar Zahid said.

 

Prof. Dr. Abdul Aziz, Member of Parliament, said the water layer of Dhaka is going down fast and at some point in future, it will be difficult to lift water from the ground. We must think about that. The water the people use should be free of pollution. To achieve Sustainable Development Goals, water integrity must be ensured” he said.

 

Within the south Asian region, Chattogram WASA is working to reduce the consumption of groundwater to near zero this year, said Engineer Ariful Islam, project director at Chattogram WASA. Md. Abdullah, Managing Director, Tuhinur Alam, DMD of Rajshahi WASA, Sanjoy Mukharjee of DPHE, Partha Hefaz Shaikh of Wateraid, Alok Mojumder of SIMAVI, Salma Mahbub of BSCAN, Kazi Zabed Joy of IRV, spoke on occasion.