PM made member of UN panel on water

The United Nations (UN) has appointed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as one of the members of a high-level UN panel on water.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim yesterday announced the appointment of 10 heads of state and government, as well as two special advisors, to the panel, according to the UN headquarters.

The panel, which is aimed at mobilising “effective action” to accelerate the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6, was launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos last January.

The newly appointed panel members are: Ameenah Gurib, President of Mauritius (Co-Chair), Enrique Peña Nieto, president of Mexico (Co-Chair), Malcolm Turnbull, prime minister of Australia, Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, János Áder, president of Hungary, Abdullah Ensour, prime minister of Jordan, Mark Rutte, prime minister of the Netherlands, Jacob Zuma, president of South Africa, Macky Sall, president of Senegal, Emomali Rahmon, president of Tajikistan.

UN also announced the names of Han Seung-soo, former prime minister of the Republic of Korea and Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, and minister of state for the Environment of Peru as special advisors.

“Ensuring water and sanitation for all is crucial for reducing poverty and achieving other Sustainable Development Goals,” said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.

“I urge all partners to mobilise behind SDG 6 with political, financial and technological support.”

The SDG6 focuses on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

“Ensuring water and sanitation for all is crucial for reducing poverty and achieving other Sustainable Development Goals,” said Ban in a statement issued by his spokesperson.

In his statement, he urged all partners to rally behind SDG 6 with political, financial and technological support.

Today, more than 2.4 billion people lack access to improved sanitation and at least 663 million do not have access to safe drinking water.

Poor sanitation, water, and hygiene lead to about 675,000 premature deaths annually, and an estimated annual economic loss of up to seven per cent of GDP in some countries, according to the UN.