Bangladesh has officially become the first South Asian country — and the 56th globally — to accede to the UN Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (UN Water Convention).
The UN Water Convention provides a legal and institutional framework to promote cooperation on shared surface and groundwater resources.
“Accession to the UN Water Convention is a landmark step for Bangladesh,” said Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser for Environment, Climate Change and Water Resources. “Climate change, growing populations, and increasing water demand require enhanced transboundary cooperation. The Convention will help us create more effective, inclusive water policies to ensure long-term water security.”
Bangladesh already engages in cooperative water management under existing treaties and institutions, including the Joint Rivers Commission and the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty with India, and also maintains partnerships with Nepal, China, and Bhutan.
The country has been actively involved with the Convention since 2012 and participated in its 10th Meeting of the Parties in Slovenia in 2024.