Bangladesh becomes first South Asian country to join UN water convention

Bangladesh officially acceded to the UN Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (UN Water Convention), on 20 June, becoming the first country in South Asia and the 56th globally to join the treaty.

As a deltaic nation with 57 transboundary rivers-most notably the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) system-Bangladesh's water security, environmental sustainability, and regional stability depend heavily on effective cross-border water cooperation. 

Rising sea levels, increasing salinity intrusion, and the fact that 65 million people still lack access to safely managed sanitation services underscore the urgent need for equitable and sustainable water governance.

The UN Water Convention offers a comprehensive legal and institutional framework to foster cooperation over shared surface and groundwater resources. 

Bangladesh has actively engaged with the Convention since 2012 and participated in its 10th Meeting of the Parties held in Slovenia in 2024, said a press release of the Water Resources Ministry today.

UN Secretary-Generel Ant›nio Guterres has called upon all UN member states to join and implement Convention.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Government of Bangladesh on Water Resources and Environment, Forest and Climate Change, remarked "Accession to the UN Water Convention is a landmark step for Bangladesh. Climate change, growing populations, and rising water demand require enhanced transboundary cooperation. The Convention will support us in developing more effective and inclusive water policies to ensure long-term water security."

Bangladesh has longstanding bilateral water agreements and institutions, including the Joint Rivers Commission and the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty with India, and maintains cooperation with Nepal, China, and Bhutan.

Tatiana Molcean, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), welcomed Bangladesh's accession, stating, "This is a significant move for South Asia. The Convention is a critical instrument for strengthening cross-border water cooperation in a time of increasing climate pressure."

Sonja Koeppel, Secretary to the UN Water Convention, congratulated Bangladesh and encouraged other South Asian nations and UN member states to join. 

She reaffirmed the UN system's support for Convention implementation, particularly in the lead-up to the next UN Water Conference, to be held from 2 to 4 December 2026 in the United Arab Emirates.