Speakers at a stakeholder dialogue on Sunday called for sustainable financing and stronger multi-stakeholder collaboration to strengthen child drowning prevention efforts in Bangladesh.
They stressed that, alongside government funding, greater participation from the private sector, local government institutions, development partners, the media and other stakeholders is essential to ensure the long-term sustainability of drowning prevention initiatives.
The dialogue, titled "Prevention of Child Drowning and Sustainable Financing for Child Protection," was held at The Daily Star Centre in Dhaka. It was organised by Somashte Media Communication and Development Foundation, with support from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI).
The event brought together government officials, representatives from the private sector, development partners, media professionals and public health experts.
Delivering the welcome address, Mir Masruruzzaman, executive director of Somashte, said an average of 40 children die from drowning every day in Bangladesh, yet the issue receives inadequate attention.
He said most child drowning incidents occur between 9am and 2pm, when caregivers are often occupied with work, leaving children without adequate supervision.
"A child can drown not only in large water bodies but also in shallow water. Ensuring safe supervision is therefore critical to preventing drowning," he said.
Rezaul Haque, Somashte's director of research and communications, presented an overview of drowning deaths in Bangladesh, the national strategy, the current financing framework and the potential role of stakeholders, including the private sector.
He said the national action plan aims to reduce drowning deaths by 50% by 2030. More than 18,000 people currently die from drowning each year. However, he said clearer funding sources, dedicated budget lines and expenditure-tracking mechanisms are needed to implement the plan effectively.
The presentation highlighted the Integrated Community-Based Childcare and SwimSafe (ICBC) project, which has provided childcare services, swimming lessons, CPR training, safe rescue education, water safety measures and awareness activities in 16 districts. The project's second phase is currently awaiting approval.
Professor Dr Kazi Maruful Islam of the Department of Development Studies at the University of Dhaka said drowning prevention should be viewed as a continuous social service rather than a project. He emphasised integrating such initiatives into existing local government structures.
Jamira Shabnam, deputy secretary of the Finance Division, called for coordinated initiatives prioritising high-risk areas. She said the central government, local government institutions and other stakeholders all have important roles to play in preventing drowning.
Reaz Ahmad, editor of Dhaka Tribune, said existing projects should be expanded rather than discontinued. He stressed the need for risk-based planning and data-driven management of drowning prevention efforts.
Azharul Haque Azad, managing director of Sadakalo, said raising public awareness about drowning is crucial. He added that collaboration between the media and business organisations could help build large-scale social initiatives.
Zahidul Islam Sajal, head of public communications at Nagad, said the social importance and measurable impact of drowning prevention must be clearly communicated to encourage greater private sector participation.
"Corporate organisations need to clearly understand both the importance of the issue and the opportunities for engagement," he said, adding that digital platforms also offer significant potential for public engagement and fundraising.
Sohrab Hasan, editor of Charcha.com, stressed the need to strengthen public awareness and community initiatives, particularly at the local level.
Media representatives, including Kajal Ghosh of Manab Zamin, Rabeya Baby of The Daily Ittefaq, Partha Shankar Saha of Prothom Alo, Zahid Rahman of Channel i and Saiduzzaman Rowshan of Agami Shomoy, discussed the role of the media in raising awareness and promoting policy attention to drowning prevention.
Sazia Afrin, communications manager at Synergos, said community acceptance of the ICBC project has been strong.
"The challenge now is ensuring these activities continue not only during the project period but also after it ends," she said.
Speakers concluded that while government funding should remain the primary source of financing, long-term sustainability will require complementary support from the private sector, corporate social responsibility initiatives, development partners and local stakeholders.
They also called for dedicated budget allocations across relevant ministries, stronger local government involvement, greater private sector participation and a transparent reporting mechanism to support effective implementation of drowning prevention initiatives.