The country’s water and energy experts at a “Meet the Press” in the capital yesterday underscored the need for efficient usage and management of water and energy to ensure sustainable social and economic development.
On the occasion of World Water Day (WWD 2014), NGO Forum for Public Health arranged the programme titled “Understanding the water-energy nexus” at Jatiya Press Club.
In line with other nations across the world, Bangladesh also observed the WWD 2014 which theme was “Saving energy is saving water, saving water is saving energy.”
Addressing the occasion, Chief Engineer of Department of Public Heath Engineering Md Nuruzzaman said nexus between water and energy is not effective in Bangladesh perspective, for which he showed logic saying that lifting excessive ground water by ‘wasting power’ is causing immense arsenic pollution.
Md Mujibur Rahman, professor of department of civil engineering of the BUET, who presented the keynote paper said equitable share of trans-boundary water is necessary for sustainable development.
Efficiency has to be increased in power generation, irrigation, water saving in domestic and industrial use, he mentioned, adding that: “We have to ensure the enforcement of policies in this regard and to strength institutions for effective water management,”
He also added that better understanding between the two sectors would improve coordination that reduces also inefficiencies in energy and water planning.
Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies Executive Director A Atiq Rahman, who chaired the programme, said a large section of people are out of electricity and “It is a big challenge for us to bring the deprived section under coverage.”
NGO Forum for Public Health Executive Director SMA Rashid addressed the programme among others.
