Bangladesh PM Hasina urges world leaders to prioritise water issues in policy, action

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has presented a seven-point agenda at the Budapest Water Summit, urging world leaders to prioritise water issues in their policy and actions.

A member of the High-level Panel on Water (HLPW), a joint initiative by the UN and World Bank, Hasina addressed the summit at the Hungarian capital's Millenaris Park on Monday.

"Water security guarantees a life of dignity and well-being for the people of this planet. To achieve this, we must work together and act now. Bangladesh is committed to playing its role," she said to the global leaders.

She said the HLPW adopted a ‘Call to Action’ during the UN General Assembly in September and all the heads of state and government and other leaders were urged to prioritise water issues.

Hasina then shared the seven-point agenda, emphasising water as part of any development endeavour at national, regional and global levels.

The prime minister said water is an area where countries vulnerable to climate change are intensely challenged.

"There is an urgent need to build resilience to water related disasters. Climate change adaptation efforts should be accorded due priority," she said. 

She thanked Hungary for hosting the summit, saying the Budapest Water Summit 2013 gave the basis for water-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

According to the UN, lack of safe water and sanitation causes around 675,000 deaths every year while many countries suffer damage to 7 percent of their GDPs.

The number of people who have no modern sanitation is 2.4 billion while 663 million do not get safe water.

The three-day water summit this year aims to determine the actions to achieve the water related SDGs and to observe the improvement of the water related issues in the Paris climate agreement.

After reaching the venue of the summit, the Bangladesh leader exchanged greetings with Hungary President János Áder and heads of government and state from other countries.

A video speech of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was played at the summit.

Mauritius President Ameenah Gurib and Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon, among others, spoke at the session.

The prime minister later visited the Sustainable Water Solutions Expo with other guests.