Bangladesh has ratified the United Nations Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention) 1992.
The Council of Advisers made this decision at its meeting today at the Chief Adviser’s Office (CAO), with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in the chair.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan briefed reporters about the outcomes of the meeting at the Foreign Service Academy here this afternoon.
She said that two United Nations laws —the Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses 1997 and the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention) 1992—apply to managing transboundary watersheds.
Although the Water Convention 1992 was adopted targeting the countries of the European Union, it was made open to all countries in 2016, Rizwana said, adding that so far, 11 countries outside the EU (mostly African countries) have signed the convention.
“Today, we decided that we will ratify the convention (Water Convention 1992),” she said.
The environment adviser said Bangladesh had completed all the necessary procedures before ratifying the convention.
She said Bangladesh is the first Asian country to ratify the 1992 Water Convention.
Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam was also at the press briefing.
Cox’s Bazar Life Desk/BSS
