Bangladesh has announced its decision to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, commonly known as the Water Convention of 1992. This move positions Bangladesh as the first Asian country to ratify the international agreement.
The decision was finalized during a meeting of the Council of Advisers held at the Chief Adviser’s Office, chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.
Following the meeting, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan briefed reporters at the Foreign Service Academy. She highlighted that Bangladesh has already completed all necessary preparations for ratification.
Hasan explained that while the 1992 Water Convention was originally intended for European countries, it was opened to all UN member states in 2016. Since then, 11 non-EU countries—primarily from Africa—have ratified the agreement.
“Today, we decided to move forward with ratifying the Water Convention,” said Hasan, emphasizing Bangladesh’s commitment to managing transboundary water resources responsibly.
Also present at the briefing was Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam.
The Water Convention, along with the 1997 UN Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses, forms a legal framework for cooperation on shared water resources.
