“Listen to the other side” - Dr. Rahaman about water conflicts in international watercourses around the world

On May 11, 2016, Dr. Muhammad Mizanur Rahaman, D.Sc. (Tech.) from the University of Asia Pacific delivered a public lecture on "Integrated water resources management in international river basins: Principles and practices".

In the beginning of the lecture the speaker gave a definition of integrated water resources management and highlighted so-called 3E basic principles: Economic well-being to people, social Equity and Environmental sustainability. Dr. Rahaman explained also the difference in integrated water resources management at international and national level and the principles of International Water Law. Thus, the speaker identified the most important transboundary water resources principles reflected in international treaties:
- Principle of equitable and reasonable utilization;
- Obligation not to cause significant harm;
- Principle of cooperation and information exchange;
- Principle of notification, consultation and negotiation;
- Principle of peaceful settlement of disputes.

During the Q&A session, students asked to give an example of successful cooperation between countries in terms of water resources management, why water resources cannot be used by country as other natural resources like oil, and how to achieve peaceful management of shared river basins. The audience was fortunate to learn that there are examples of successful cooperation in different parts of the world although success deserves efforts, sustained cooperation and readiness to compromise.

Answering the questions, Dr. Rahaman once again noted the importance of international cooperation between countries. “Listen to the other side” – concluded Dr. Muhammad Mizanur Rahaman in the end of the session.

Back to list