Hon’ble President of the General Assembly,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good Evening/Good Morning
Thank you for inviting me to this important high level meeting on water related goals and targets of the 2030 agenda.
- The importance of water is multi-faceted. It is essential for basic survival to the economic growth, food security, productivity, health, ecosystem, biodiversity, energy production and education, amongst others. It is only natural that in addition to a specific goal relating to water (goal 6), water related issues are addressed in different goals and targets in the SDGs. Efficient management of water resources remains a fundamental challenge. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has signified the importance of access to safe water and sanitation for improved global health.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
- Under the leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has done remarkable progress in ensuring access to drinking water and sanitationfor all over the years.
- Given the long-term challenges posed by climate change, natural disasters and other environmental hazards, the government of Bangladesh has formulated Bangladesh Delta Plan-2100 which is a water-centric comprehensive and integrated roadmap. It aims to ensure long-term water and food security, economic growth and environmental sustainability.
Distinguished guests,
- Recognising the success of Bangladesh in water resources management, Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina was nominated as a member to the United Nations High Level Panel on Water in 2016.
Excellences,
- To foster the implementation of the water-related goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda, we need to scale-up multilateral cooperation, international partnership and to accelerate concrete actions. Similarly, I would like to highlight the urgency of resource mobilisation and enhanced investment in the water infrastructure to build a more resilient future. To ensure sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, it is essential to look at the water cycle in its entirety and take a participatory, pro-planet approach.
I thank you all.
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