In a modest convention hall tucked inside Chattogram’s urban sprawl, more than 160 residents, city officials, engineers, and advocates gathered on March 24 to mark World Water Day — not with celebration, but with a sobering call to action.
Hosted by Water and Sanitation for Urban Populations (WSUP) Bangladesh, the event spotlighted this year’s global theme: Glacier Preservation, a reminder of the fragile ecosystems underpinning the world’s water security. But for many in Bangladesh’s dense slums and underserved neighborhoods, glaciers feel impossibly distant. The crisis is local — and deeply personal.
Chattogram residents listening to the 2025 World Water Day celebrations
“Access to safe water is still a distant reality in rural and slum areas, where water is often contaminated with arsenic and salinity,” said Engineer Golam Morshed of the Department of Public Health Engineering. “To meet SDG goals, we must at least quadruple our capacity.”
The event centered on a growing sense of urgency: climate change, rapid urbanization, and underfunded infrastructure are combining to make safe water a daily struggle for millions.
“In areas where clean water is scarce, people often rely on unsafe sources,” said Moinul Ahsan Chowdhury Joy, Slum and Social Development Officer at Chattogram City Corporation. “This significantly increases the risk of waterborne diseases.”
Voices from the community lent weight to the technical discussions. The local residents described how access to a reliable water supply had transformed their lives — from reducing illness to opening economic opportunities.
“Access to safe water isn’t just about health. It’s about dignity and opportunity,” said Mohammad Khorshed, WSUP Project Lead.
Mohammad Khorshed, WSUP Bangladesh Project Lead speaking at the 2025 World Water Day celebrations
Topics ranged from groundwater conservation to household-level water treatment to the connection between hygiene and public health. Speakers emphasized that meaningful change will require long-term collaboration — across government, civil society, and communities themselves.
Even as global discussions trend toward high-level policy and climate adaptation, the message from Chattogram was clear: the solutions must be local, practical, and people-first.
As Saiful Islam from Bangladesh Television reminded attendees, the crisis is urgent — but not unsolvable.
The event drew widespread media coverage, ensuring that the message extended beyond the conference hall. In a city where safe water remains a daily question, the conversation was a timely step toward answers.