Dhaka: To obtain valuable feedback from its clients and service users and also to demonstrate the developments in the various fields of operation of IWM to potential users, Institute of Water Modelling, organized a half day Users Conference (UC) at BIAM Foundation on 13 December.

The theme of this years’ UC is ‘Sustainable Development Goals 2030 for Bangladesh: Role of IWM’.

IWM Executive Director Prof. Dr. M Monowar Hossain based his keynote presentation on this theme. He demonstrated how Mathematical Model is a useful tool to solve the complex water-related problems in the country and abroad. A large number of water management projects have been immensely benefitted through the use of mathematical modelling tools. With the mathematical modelling tools and state-of-the-art survey techniques IWM largely contributed to the national government agencies, development partners, donor agencies, international NGOs and private sectors in achieving sustainable water resources management in Bangladesh. 

Emphasizing on the proper use of water Water Resources minister Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud said, ‘Concept is to use it but don’t use it to the extent that future generation is going to suffer. We are talking about 100 years after or thousand years after. We are here to talking about sustainable development.’

Special Guest Mr Muhammad Nazrul Islam, Bir-Protik, MP, was present as the special guest.

The conference was chaired by Dr. Zafar Ahmed Khan, Secretary of Ministry of Water resources and Chairperson of IWM Board of Trustees. He thanked all the users of IWM services. He expressed that the use of mathematical models developed with state-of-the-art technologies will be able to cover more complex areas related to water and environment in the coming days.

Designated discussants from 15 organizations including World Bank, DHI-Denmark, BWDB, Dhaka WASA, DPHE, RHD, LGED, BUET, Bangladesh Haor and Wetland Development Board, MPA, CPA, BIWTA, BMDA, BBA and BWP were present and gave their comments and suggestions on the keynote presentation which was followed by an open discussion from selected users of IWM products and services.

Bangladesh is undergoing substantial economic and social change, and this will intensify in the coming decades. Drivers of change would not only affect rural-urban migration but also water sector in general as Bangladesh is mainly a water dependent agrarian country.

Environmental pressures, exacerbated by climate change, will remain significant and could easily worsen, if remedial actions, at the local and global level are not taken. While the population will is expected to be around 220 million in 2030, growing wealth and population displacement due to climate induced phenomena will place further strains on ecosystems and the living environment in the Bangladesh Delta.

The conference was an august gathering of the water engineers, scientists, decision makers of the government, representatives from the national and international donor agencies and NGOs who shared their respective insight to the great challenges that Bangladesh will face in the water and environmental sectors in future.