Staff Reporter :
Speakers at a programme on Wednesday emphasised on creating awareness among the students about water uses and sanitation with a view to making the city hygienic.
The groundwater level is falling rapidly in Dhaka City. Many parts of the capital are witnessing receding of groundwater level by one to three metres annually. It is not so far when the city people will face severe tap water and pure drinking water crisis. If we can create awareness among the students about the uses of water and its preservation it is possible to face the crisis, they said.
They said this at a World Water Day 2017 Observation and Handover Ceremony of a project titled “Advanced WASH situations at schools for addressing the challenges of urbanization” held at “Government Primary School”, Tejgaon and “T and T Adarsha Girls’ High School”, Wireless Gate, Mohakhali in the capital on Wednesday.
CEO of HSBC Bangladesh Francois de Maricourt, Director of Fundraising and Learning of WaterAid Bangladesh Imrul Kayes Muniruzzaman, Executive Director of Sajida Foundation Zahida Fizza Kabir, Manager of Corporate Sustainability of HSBC Limited Abdullah Al Jubayer and Banani Thana Education Officer Mohammad Omidur Rahman spoke at the programme, among others.
The aim of the project is to improving the water supply, sanitation facilities and hygiene practices among the students, building awareness among students on water conservancy and promoting rainwater harvesting as alternative water source to face challenges with water scarcity.
Sajida Foundation and WaterAid Bangladesh jointly implemented the project with the support of HSBC Bank.
Sajida Foundation and WaterAid Bangladesh also disclosed their findings and recommendations to the nation on the occasion of World Water Day 2017.
They also built catchment areas of RWHS and drinking water filters at the roof, water point and sanitation block at 3rd floor, tanks and filters at the
ground floor of the “Government Primary School” and “T and T Adarsha Girls’ High School.”
To inspire the students, a knowledge corner has been set up at the ground floor of the two schools.
The schools authorities also thanked the organizers especially Sajida Foundation for their innovative ideas and creating awarness among the student to face the possible pure drinking water crisis.
The organisation conferred prizes to 63 hygiene volunteers, to many students who contributed in the knowledge corner and given token gift with hygiene message for all the students.
It may be mentioned that the WaterAid Bangladesh with the support of local HSBC Bank has been implementing WASH projects in diversified geographical locations to contribute to water crisis in times of climate change.
This partnership started since 2013 and serving locations including Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet, Munsiganj, Moulvibazar, Bandarban and Khulna.
