New York: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday underscored the need for creating a global fund on water SDG to support research, innovation and technology transfer, and investing heavily in resilient and innovative water infrastructures to create new narratives and renewed values on water, reports the UNB.

‘To create new narratives and renewed values on water, we need to invest heavily in resilient and innovative water infrastructures,’ she said while speaking at a meeting of the High-Level Panel on Water at the conference room-8 of the UN Headquarters.

The Prime Minister also urged governments and leaders concerned for taking meaningful water-actions to explore all possible platforms in the respective regions and at the global level to ensure water governance and continue to give best attention to water.

Sheikh Hasina underscored the need for giving a fresh focus on the impacts of climate change and the intensity of water-related disasters such as flood, draught and cyclone, saying long-term strategies are needed to tackle these challenges.

She said Bangladesh values water as rights and the country envisions a water secure world for all as water ensures human dignity.

Mentioning that water with other SDGs, particularly for health, agriculture, industry, infrastructure and cities, has some critical and connecting roles, the Prime Minister put importance to creation of a global fund on water SDG to support research, innovation and technology transfer.

The Prime Minister said as the members of the High-Level Panel on Water (HLPW), the mandates of her government are to motivate effective action and advocate on financing and implementation. ‘The Action Plan of the government, declared in 2016, aims for a fundamental shift in the way we behave towards water, while the water for the survival is a finite resource for the global commons,’ she added.

She mentioned that Bangladesh earned global recognition as a champion for ensuring safe drinking water and sanitation for all.

In a country of over 16 crore people, she said, nearly everyone can access safe drinking water and now the target is to ensure direct access to safe drinking water for all by 2020.

Hasina said steps have been taken to re-excavate big ponds, ditches and water reservoirs, and ensure their water filtration systems and protection from pollution and surface discharge to increase the sustainable use of surface water.

Referring to the initiative of prioritising WASH in schools, the Prime Minister said the investment for the younger generations will promote education and empowerment for girls and boys and support shared principles on the basic need to secure our future.