It is terribly frustrating that while on the one hand, Bangladesh gets high amounts of rainfall -- flooding villages and water-logging cities -- on the other hand, we still suffer from a shortage of clean, drinking water in many areas of the country. Our water crisis is something that needs to be solved, particularly in a post-pandemic area, where so many sectors have taken a huge blow. For obvious reasons, ensuring enough water is not an area in which we can compromise. Water is, after all, a basic right.
To that end, it is good to see Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina put forward a five-point proposal in order to raise international awareness on water-related challenges. Though water-related problems have always plagued Bangladesh, new and innovative solutions are obviously needed at a time Covid-19 has created tremendous disruptions in the economy and in our development plans.
No doubt, ensuring water security will require global cooperation. The water issue is closely tied to climate change, for which richer nations are primarily responsible. But as always, Bangladesh pays the price, being one of the most climate-vulnerable nations in the world. As we forge ahead, these issues need to be addressed.
The goals here are numerous and disparate, but we must work towards all of them simultaneously. Protecting ourselves against flooding and disaster-resilience go hand in hand with the availability of potable, uncontaminated water. If we wish to lift up the standards of living for all of our citizens, and meet our development targets, fixing our water woes is absolutely imperative, and non-negotiable.