Belgian Queen Mathilde said that collective efforts were underway to improve the quality of drinking water.
She said this while visiting Jhulantpara area of Sutarkhali union of coastal Dakop upazila of Khulna Wednesday afternoon.
During this time, she exchanged views with the local people of Jhulantapara and got an idea about the life-struggle, problems and prospects of the people living in the coastal areas of Khulna.
The queen was informed in detail about the ongoing activities of the Logic project funded by UNDP, UNCDF, European Union and Swedish Government under the Local Government Division of Bangladesh to help the marginalized people of the southern region so they were not displaced due to the impact of climate change.
Dhaka TribuneEarlier, the queen reached Nalian Secondary School ground in Sutarkhali by helicopter from Dhaka. There she observed the water collection activities of the local people from the water treatment plant established under the Logic project on the ground floor of the union parishad building. She also had a brief discussion with the beneficiaries of the water treatment plant.
Dhaka TribuneThe locals told her that earlier women had to go five to six kilometres to collect drinking water for the family from rural sources, but after the new water treatment plant, fresh water is easily available.
Queen Mathilde left Sutarkhali by helicopter for Dhaka in the evening.
Dhaka TribuneInformation and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmood accompanied her as minister-in-waiting to perform state policy duties.
The minister said that Bangladesh is one of the countries affected by climate change.
Dhaka Tribune“No one can imagine the harmful effects of climate change on the entire coast of Bangladesh without being here. Every year there are floods and tidal waves. The queen of Belgium is here to see for herself how we are dealing with the impact of climate change and to speak to the people here,” he added.
