Bangladesh officially joined the United Nations’ ‘Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes UN Water Convention’ on June 20. Through this, Bangladesh became the first country in South Asia and the 56th country in the world to join the agreement.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor on Environment, Forests and Climate Change and Water Resources of the Interim Government, said, “Joining the UN Water Convention is a historic step for Bangladesh. In the context of climate change, population growth and increasing water demand, transboundary cooperation has become more urgent. This convention will help us formulate inclusive and effective water policies.”
The delta state of Bangladesh has 57 transboundary rivers, including the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) river system. Joint management of these rivers is crucial for water security, environmental stability and regional peace. Rising sea levels, salinity intrusion and the lack of safe sanitation for 65 million people have further intensified the need for rational and sustainable water governance.
The United Nations Water Convention provides a comprehensive legal and institutional framework for the management of transboundary surface and groundwater resources. Bangladesh has been actively involved in the Convention since 2012 and participated in its tenth meeting held in Slovenia in 2024.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on all member states to join and implement the convention.
Several bilateral agreements, including the Bangladesh-India Joint River Commission and the Ganges Water Sharing Agreement, and cooperative frameworks with Nepal, China, and Bhutan have long existed.
Tatiana Malsyan, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), praised Bangladesh’s accession, saying it is a significant step forward for South Asia. It is an important tool for managing transboundary water resources in the face of increasing climate pressures.
UN Water Convention Secretary Sonia Koeppel congratulated Bangladesh and urged other South Asian countries to join the convention. She assured the UN’s full support in the implementation process in the context of the next UN Water Conference to be held in the United Arab Emirates from December 2 to 4, 2026.
Source: Bangladesh Protidin
