Public health experts and rights activists at a discussion in Dhaka on Wednesday urged the authorities concern to stop misuse of public money allocated for water rights.
Non-government organisations, the NGO Forum, Wave Foundation and Bangladesh Water Partnership jointly organised the discussion at the DPHE Bhaban, said a press release.
They said that a significant portion of allocations for water for the people of the country misused for the lack of accountability and transparency.
Programme lead of the Water Integrity Network Germany, Mary Galvin, in a presentation stressed that although the allocated fund for water was not sufficient, 26 per cent of the fund was misused.
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology professor Tanvir Ahmed in his keynote presentation said that one-fourth of the total allocation for water wasted due to corruption.
The government must ensure sewerage treatment for the people of the country as the waste water pollution poses risk to ensure people鈥檚 access to clean water and target of Sustainable Development Goal, public health activists urged.
Bangladesh still stands far away from achieving the SDG goal on water, said the NGO Forum executive director SMA Rashid, urging the authority to ensure people鈥檚 right to water.
Demanding the government to increase budget allocation for water, Dhaka WASA managing director Fazlur Rahman said that the budget allocation for water and sanitation sector was not enough to address the prevailing demand.
Joint secretary Saiful Islam Mazumder emphasised the importance of robust coordination among stakeholders to improve service delivery and meet the growing demands for water and sanitation.
The seminar concluded with a commitment to prioritise public awareness and participatory governance to achieve the SDG 6 and ensure sustainable water and sanitation services for all.
