Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad has warned that the worsening water crisis is becoming a matter of survival for countries such as Bangladesh, calling for stronger regional cooperation to address growing threats to water security across Asia.
The Speaker made the remarks on Tuesday during a 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 Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
Describing water scarcity as one of the world's most urgent challenges, Hafiz Uddin said the crisis has reached alarming levels in South Asia, where millions of people depend on increasingly stressed transboundary river systems.
“The water crisis has become so severe that for some countries, including Bangladesh, it has emerged as a matter of life and death,” he said.
The Speaker noted that Bangladesh, India and Pakistan are among the countries facing mounting pressure from water shortages, climate change and competing demands on shared river resources.
Highlighting Bangladesh's longstanding concerns over transboundary rivers, he said the country has been engaged in discussions with India since independence to secure a fair share of shared waters, an issue that remains critical for agriculture, livelihoods and environmental sustainability.
The remarks come at a time when water security is increasingly emerging as a major geopolitical and climate challenge across Asia, with experts warning that growing populations, rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns could intensify regional competition over water resources.
During the meeting, AAWC Secretary-General Ha Sang Je sought Bangladesh's active participation in the organization's efforts to strengthen legislative cooperation on water management and climate resilience.
He invited the Speaker to attend the AAWC's annual conference in Laos next year and urged Bangladeshi lawmakers to become more involved in the platform's initiatives.
The Speaker welcomed the organization's work and said he would encourage members of parliament to participate in regional efforts aimed at addressing water-related challenges.
He also assured that Bangladesh would send a delegation to the upcoming conference.
Established as an inter-parliamentary platform, the AAWC works with lawmakers across Asia on issues related to water security, climate adaptation, sustainable water management and environmental cooperation.