Bangladesh’s speaker has urged Asian countries to deepen cooperation on water security as climate change, population pressure and transboundary river challenges intensify regional risks.
Bangladesh‘s parliament speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed has called for stronger cooperation among Asian countries to confront the worsening water crisis, warning that the challenge is becoming increasingly severe across the region and beyond.
The appeal came on Tuesday when a high-level South Korean delegation led by Ha Sang Je, secretary general of the Asia National Assembly Water Consultative Board, paid a courtesy call on the speaker, according to the report. Their meeting focused on regional and global water shortages, sustainable management of water resources and ways to deepen international cooperation on the issue.
Ahmed said the water crisis had reached a stage where it was becoming a matter of survival for many countries. He noted that South Asian nations such as Bangladesh, India and Pakistan were feeling the impact more deeply as population growth, climate change, changing river flows and rising demand for water made the situation more complex by the day.
He said Bangladesh had been in continuous discussions with neighbouring India since independence to ensure fair sharing of water from transboundary rivers. He also expressed hope that greater mutual trust and stronger regional cooperation would help produce more positive progress in water resource management.
The speaker said the crisis was not simply a domestic issue for any one country but a transboundary and global challenge. He stressed that effective solutions would require closer cooperation among countries through research, technology exchange, information sharing and policy coordination.
During the meeting, Ha Sang Je outlined the activities of the Asia National Assembly Water Consultative Board and underscored the importance of active participation by lawmakers in tackling the global water crisis. He invited members of Bangladesh’s parliament to join the body and sought the speaker’s support in that effort.
He also formally invited Ahmed to attend the board’s annual conference to be held in Laos in 2026.
Both sides exchanged positive views on expanding cooperation to strengthen water security, support sustainable development and ensure safe water for future generations.
Experts say climate change is increasing drought, irregular rainfall and water shortages across many parts of Asia. In that context, regional cooperation and joint initiatives could play an important role in addressing the crisis, while the speaker’s call is being seen as a message in support of stronger collective action.
