WWD 2001 Event
Bangladesh - activities in March and beyond
Activities planned in Bangladesh to celebrate World Water Day 2001:
March 21, 2001
The Forum of Environmental Journalists of Bangladesh (FEJB) in collaboration with the World Water Forum of Journalists (WWFJ) is organising an ‘International Seminar on Water for People, Water for Health’ on March 21, 2001 at National Press Club (in Dhaka) marking the World Water Day. Hon. Water Resources Minister Abdur Razzak will be the Chief Guest.
Declaration submitted by the participants of this seminar.
March 22, 2001
At the occasion of the World Water Day 2001, Water for Health, a seminar will be organized at the Auditorium of the Department for Public Health Engineering in Dhaka. The Chief Guest will be the Hon. Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Mr. Zillur Rahman. Mr. Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Deputy Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives and Dr. Suniti Acharya, Representative of the World Health Organization will be special guests. The NGO Forum for Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation is the main organizer of the event, with support from the Department for Public Health Engineering and the World Health Organization.
Dr. Mahfuzar Rahman, epidemiologist and expert in the health effects of arsenic exposure at the ICDDR,B, will give the keynote address.
June 5, 2001
At the occasion of Environment Day, various events will be organized in the four Healthy Cities in Bangladesh: Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Sylhet and Rajshahi. Drinking Water Quality for Health will be highlighted on the day, in relation to water quality surveillance and pollution control (esp. Chittagong), and with specific reference to arsenic contamination of groundwater ( esp. Rajshahi and Sylhet).
In the period April to July 2001, several seminars will be organized through the district offices of the NGO Forum, for NGOs working in water, to promote the use of rainwater as a safe alternative drinking water source in arsenic affected areas.
The six main national Bangla and English dailies have been provided with a media package containing 8 papers of national and international origin, which can be used to highlight “water for health” issues on March 22, 2001 and beyond.
Contact
Mr. Han Heijnen
WHO, Bangladesh
Phone: 880 2 9343372
E-mail: whosani@citechco.net
Or: Mr. Joseph Haider, e-mail: ngof@bangla.net