There are numerous examples where trans-

boundary waters have proved to be a

source of cooperation rather than conflict.
Water and Biodiversity
Freshwater holds over 10% of all life on the
planet and 35% of all vertebrates. Freshwa-
ter also supports all terrestrial biodiversity.
Freshwater ecosystems provide a vast array
of services to society.
A well-functioning watershed, with its
forests, grasslands and soils, and wetlands,
including watercourses, lakes, swamps and
floodplains, provides water storage, clean
water, flood flows management and many
other benefits.
The loss and degradation of biodiversity
compromise ecosystems and all the services
they deliver, including the supply of clean
water.
Water and Disasters
During the period of 2000 to 2006 a total
of 2163 water-related disasters were
reported globally.
Water co-operation
History and Background
International year of water cooperation
2013 will be celebrated following different
advocacy and campaign tools to strengthen
the Civil Society Capacity and Voice on
Water Cooperation that results the water
responsive urbanization and development
in climate change phenomenon.
In Bangladesh water is the lifeline of the
community. The country is an active delta
and 60% of the country is wetland of differ-
ent types. There are 230 rivers and 57 inter-
national rivers. The irrigation system of the
country is mostly dependent on the rain and
surface water. The wellbeing of rivers is a
must to ensure food security. The country is
vulnerable to climate change, and the water
system is the most vulnerable sector to
climate change.
The Objective of the year of International
Water Cooperation is to raise awareness,
both on the potential for increased coopera-
tion, and on the challenges facing water
management in light of the increase in
demand for water access, allocation &
services.
This Year will highlight the history of success-
ful water cooperation initiatives, as well as
identify burning issues on water education,
water diplomacy, trans-boundary water
management, financing cooperation,
national/international legal frameworks,
and the linkages with the Millennium Devel-
opment Goals. To have a success on water
cooperation the year will be observed with
community, youth groups, local govern-
ment, civil society, academia and policy
makers.
Water and Climate change
Between 1991 and 2000 over 665,000
people died in 2,557 natural disasters of
which 90% were water related events.
Adaptation to climate change is mainly
about better water management.
Without improved water resources manage-
ment, the progress towards poverty reduc-
tion targets, the millennium development
goals, and sustainable development in all its
economic, social and environmental dimen-
sions, will be jeopardized.
Transboundary waters
148 countries include territory within one or
more transboundary river basins. 21 coun-
tries lie entirely within one or more of these
watersheds.
39 countries have more than 90% of their
territory within one or more transboundary
river basins.
In the emergency disasters database, killing
more than 290,000 people, and affecting
more than 1.5 billion people, and inflicting
more than US$422 billion of damage.
More than 83% disasters occurred in Asia
Since 1900 more than 11 million people have
died as a consequence of drought and more
than 2 billion have been affected by
drought.
Water quality
One in nine people worldwide dont have
access to improved sources of drinking
water and one in three lacks improved sani-
tation.
80% of sewage in developing countries is
discharged untreated directly into water
bodies.
Industry dumps an estimated 300-400 mt of
polluted waste in waters every year.
Nitrate from agriculture is the most common
chemical contaminant in the world's
groundwater aquifers.
Approximately 3.5 million people die each
year due to inadequate water supply, sanita-
tion and hygiene.
CLIMATE
CHANGE
If current trends continue, 2.4 billion people
will still lack improved sanitation facilities in
2015.
Access to sanitation, the practice of good
hygiene, and a safe water supply could save
1.5 million children a year.
Every 20 seconds, a child dies as a result of
poor sanitation.
Water for Food
7 billion billion people to feed today, 9
billion billion people in 2050 = 60% more
food needed +19% increase of agricultural
water consumption (including both rainfed
and irrigated) by 2050.
Every day 1 person drinks 2-4 liters of water
and eats 2000-5000 litres of virtual water
embedded in food.
Bangladesh river condition present
scenario
Bangladesh is a riverine country. About 800
rivers including tributaries flow through the
country constituting a waterway of total
length around 24,140 km. But during dry
season the total length of waterway
decreases to 16,000 km & less. The most
alarming factors for our rivers are illegal
grabbing, waste throwing & dumping,
unusual siltation, lack of dredging & indus-
trial pollution etc.
Transboundary river & Water
co-operation Bangladesh perspective
Fifty-seven transboundary rivers feed into
Bangladesh, carrying a peak water flow of
an estimated 1.5 million cusecs (m3 per
second). Bangladesh is highly dependent on
and susceptible to run-off from upper-
riparian states, with 92.5% of the countrys
surface water provided by out-of country
sources. Drought in the dry season, associ-
ated among other things with upstream
river diversion and damming, can have
severe implications for agricultural yields.
Sustainable development & management of
water resources of Bangladesh including
transboundary rivers will be possible if
water co-operation between Bangladesh &
India is implemented.
Water quality of Bangladesh
In Bangladesh the quality of water has been
deteriorated from the beginning of industri-
alization. Now a days discharge of
untreated industrial waste in the surround-
ing water body is a very common scenario.
In Bangladesh major crisis of water sector
are as follows:
Water grabbing, Water Pollution,
Week response to Trans-boundary polices,
Urbanization, Industrialization, Climate
Change, Power practices, Corruption, Mis-
management.
The main source of drinking water in Ban-
gladesh is ground water. The ground water
sources are also used in Bangladesh for
irrigation purpose especially in the northern
region. Ground water table depletion in the
Dhaka city is a matter of great concern at
present.
Significance of Water co-operation
Water cooperation builds peace.
Water cooperation is key to socioeconomic
development, poverty eradication, social
equity, gender equality and environmental
sustainability.
Water cooperation creates tangible eco-
nomic benefits.
Water cooperation is crucial to preserve
water resources, ensure their sustainability
and protect the environment.
Water Scarcity
Around 1.2 billion people, or almost one-
fifth of the world's population are living in
areas of physical scarcity and 500 million
people are approaching to this situation.
Water use has been growing at more than
twice the rate of population increase in the
last century.
By 2025, 1800 million people will be living
in countries or regions with absolute water
scarcity, and two-thirds of the world popu-
lation could be under stress conditions.
Water and Urbanization
More than half of the world population
over 3.5 billion people lives in cities.
Every second, the urban population grows
by 2 people.
Population with access to improved sources
of drinking water in 2010 (urban - 96%,
rural - 81%).
Population with access to improved sanita-
tion facilities in 2010 (urban: 79%, rural:
47%).
827.6 million People live in slums, often
lacking adequate water and sanitation
services.
Increase of overall slum population between
2000 and 2010: 6 million people a year on
these trends, the world slum population
should reach 888 million by 2020.
Water and Sanitation
2.5 billion People still lack improved sanita-
tion. 1.1 billion People still practice open
defecation, thats 15% of the world popula-
tion.
Water & Environment
Water is a key foundation whose impor-
tance can hardly be overestimated. It is a
common denominator of the leading global
challenges of our time. With trans-boundary
river basins and aquifer systems representing
almost half the earth's surface & now water
cooperation is vital for peace of human
civilization. Management of water can
reduce the risk of disasters, such as droughts
and floods.
Water is essential for all socio-economic
development and for maintaining healthy
ecosystems. As population increases and
development calls for increased allocations
of groundwater and surface water for the
domestic, agriculture and industrial sectors,
the pressure on water resources intensifies,
leading to tensions, conflicts among users,
and excessive pressure on the natural envi-
ronment.