Int’l water conference ends with call for ecosystem-centric Teesta conservation

The 7th international water conference, styled "Teesta River Basin: Overcoming the Challenges," concluded on Saturday with calls for materialising an integrated basin-wide approach and giving proper attention to human and ecosystem while taking any kind of structural interventions in the river confluences.

Speaking at the concluding session, Imtiaz Ahmed, professor of international relations department at Dhaka University, emphasised the need for concerted efforts by all stakeholders across the borders and boundaries to resolve all disputed agenda, including the water sharing issue.

Farah Kabir, country director of ActionAid Bangladesh – the organiser of the three-day virtual programme, summed up the discussions that took place since Thursday.

Former foreign secretary Shahidul Haque, also a professorial fellow at North South University, said discussions over water and river are still segmented. "A new adaptation approach would be suitable to address sensitive issues like Teesta water sharing. In the negotiating world, we find better alternatives to hardcore agreement-based relations," he added.

Eriberto Eulisse, executive director of the Global Network for Water Museums, said rivers, in general, are among the best environmental entities in which landscape-based museums can be applicable for the protection not only of the environment but also of livelihood, people, and natural as well as cultural heritage.

Rahima Sultana Kajal, executive director of the Association of Voluntary Actions for Society and a member of General Assembly ActionAid International Bangladesh Society, in her presentation, described the foundation of the country's only water museum in Kalapura, Patuakhali, and how it helps uphold the rights of marginal people.

Shashwata Bhattacharjee, head of Bangladesh department at Kaunia College, said if riverine people's life become detached from the river-centered livelihood, the thousand-year-old cherished culture would be ruined.

Ajaya Dixit, adviser to ISET-Nepal; Sara Ahmed, adjunct professor at Centre for Water Research, IISER-Pune of India; and Shamim Arfeen, founding director of Living Waters Museum, among others, also spoke on the occasion.