Speaker of Parliament Hafiz Uddin Ahmad on Tuesday urged Asian countries to strengthen regional cooperation to tackle the worsening water crisis, describing it as one of the most urgent global challenges of the time.
“The water crisis has become so severe that for some Countries, including Bangladesh, it has become 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 the National Parliament.
He noted that the water crisis is particularly severe in South Asia, including Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.
Highlighting Bangladesh’s longstanding efforts to ensure equitable sharing of transboundary water resources, the Speaker said the country has been engaged in discussions with neighbouring India on water-sharing issues since independence.
During the meeting, Ha Sang Je sought the Speaker’s support in encouraging Bangladeshi lawmakers to join the AAWC and contribute to global initiatives addressing water-related challenges.
He also extended an invitation to the Speaker to attend the organisation’s annual conference scheduled to be held in Laos in 2026.
The Speaker expressed appreciation for the AAWC’s efforts since 2019 to address water-related issues through legal and institutional cooperation.
He said he would recommend participation of Bangladeshi parliamentarians in the organisation’s legislative initiatives, which aim to engage lawmakers across Asia in strengthening water security.
The Speaker also assured that a Bangladeshi delegation would attend the upcoming AAWC annual conference in Laos.
The AAWC is an inter-parliamentary platform comprising legislators from various Asian countries. It works to promote cooperation on water security, climate change, water management and sustainable development across the region.
