New project to ensure safe water for one and a half lakh vulnerable people in Barendra Bhumi
Photo Collected
A project titled ‘Increasing Sustainable Access to Safe Water for Vulnerable Communities in Barendra Region’ has been officially launched by the non-governmental organization Dasco Foundation. The project is being implemented with financial support from the Coca-Cola Foundation to improve sustainable, climate-resilient access to safe drinking water for vulnerable populations in the drought-prone Barendra region of Bangladesh. The people associated with the project expect that about 1 lakh 55 thousand vulnerable people will benefit through the community-based water management system.
The launch ceremony of the project was organized at a restaurant in Rajshahi Nagar on Thursday. The chief executive officer of Dasco Foundation gave a welcome speech. Akramul Haq. Jahangir Alam Khan, project manager of Dasco Foundation, presented a documentary on the activities of Dasco and Coca-Cola Foundation to solve the problem of water-stressed areas declared by the government.
Executive Director and Additional Secretary Abu Saeed of Barendra Multipurpose Development Authority gave a speech as the chief guest. Kamruzzaman. Moin Ullah Chowdhury, Managing Director of Coca-Cola Bangladesh Limited, Montu Kumar Biswas, former Additional Secretary of Ministry of Water Resources and Advisor of Institute of Water Modelling, Professor Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan of Department of Geology and Mining of Rajshahi University, Tarun Banerjee, Social Development Officer of Directorate of Public Health and Engineering spoke as special guests. Dasco Foundation Chairman Jaytuna Khatun delivered the closing speech.
The Barendra area of northwestern Bangladesh is facing increasing water scarcity due to declining groundwater levels, erratic rainfall, prolonged drought and the effects of climate change. Highlighting the urgent need for sustainable water management initiatives, the Bangladesh government recently declared parts of the region as high water stress areas.
The three-year project will operate in Niamatpur Upazila (8 Unions) and Gomstapur Upazila (5 Unions) of Naogaon and aims to benefit about 155,000 vulnerable people through improved and climate-resilient water supply systems and community-based water management systems.
The project includes installation and rehabilitation of piped water supply systems, solar and electric submersible pumps, rainwater harvesting systems, re-excavation of ponds, sanitation facilities, hygiene promotion and strengthening of community-based water management committees. The initiative also emphasizes long-term sustainability through community participation, inclusion of women and marginalized groups, and local ownership.
The launch workshop brought together representatives from government departments. Representatives from local government institutions, academia, media, community leaders, development partners and representatives of Coca-Cola Bangladesh Limited discussed the project objectives, implementation strategies and collaborative steps required to address the growing water challenges in Barendra Bhumi. Naogaon student Mamata Pahan, former chairman of Niamatpur Rasulpur Union Abul Kalam Azad, Niamatpur social activist Rita Rani, Rasulpur Union administrative officer Mehedi Hasan, Rajshahi Fruit Research Center official Sakhawat Hossain, journalist Akbarul Hasan, private organization Rulfau CEO Afzal Hossain and others spoke.
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