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Journalists and Experts Debate Bangladesh Water Issues
ADB and Jatiya Press Club Journalist Workshop is First of its Kind

DHAKA, BANGLADESH (8 June 2005) - Floods, safe drinking water, and water issues facing the rural poor were among the topics discussed in a two-day workshop attended by more than 35 journalists from Bangladesh's top media outlets this week.

In the first event of its kind, the editors and reporters gathered in Rajendrapur near Dhaka to attend a two-day workshop on water issues and listen to the country's leading water experts.

Speakers included Kenichi Yokoyama, Senior Water Resources Specialist at the Asian Development Bank (ADB); Quamrul Islam Siddique, Chairperson of the Global Water Partnership-South Asia; and Ainun Nishat, Bangladesh Country Representative of IUCN.

Organized in conjunction with the Jatiya Press Club (the journalists association of Dhaka), the workshop is part of ADB's Water Awareness Program and aims to broaden journalists' knowledge of water issues in Bangladesh, encourage more diverse collections of writings on the subject, and outline the role of journalists in promoting and lobbying for water sector reform.

The Bangladesh event is the 10th in the series and follows similar workshops held in Cambodia, India, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Thailand, and Viet Nam.

Sessions at the workshop, which took place at the BRAC Centre for Development Management (BCDM), consisted of discussions on integrated water resource management and efforts to establish a national water policy in Bangladesh; bringing safe water and sanitation to the urban and rural poor; and water and floods in Bangladesh.

Other speakers included Kazi Ali Azam, Deputy Managing Director of The Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority. Representatives from WaterAid, the United Nations Development Programme; Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad; and the Royal Netherlands Embassy also took part.

In opening remarks, Putu Kamayana, Senior Country Programs Specialist at ADB's Bangladesh Resident Mission said there are few countries in the world where water has such a direct impact on people's lives as Bangladesh.

"From the Daily Janakantha to Bangladesh Television to the United News of Bangladesh, this workshop is a unique opportunity for so many journalists from so many different media outlets to come together to talk about water," he said.

"The workshop provides journalists with valuable material and contacts to write further on water issues, help broaden their knowledge and increase their determination to use their vital role in the media to promote water sector reform and greater awareness."

His statement was supported by Reazuddin Ahmed, President of the Jatiya Press Club.

"We are delighted to be partnering with ADB in this important event and giving Bangladeshi journalists the opportunity to engage with international and national experts from all sides of the water debate," he said. "Water is the most important issue facing this country and this initiative will help to ensure that it is given the coverage and attention in the media that it deserves."

ADB is dedicated to reducing poverty in the Asia and Pacific region through pro-poor sustainable economic growth, social development, and good governance. Established in 1966, it is owned by 63 members, with 45 from the region. In 2004, it approved US$230 million in loans and $6.3 million in technical assistance for Bangladesh.

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