This was stated at seminar on Water for Life: Our Activity, held here yesterday, marking the International Water Day- 2005.

The speakers said at least Tk 50 billion is spent annually for treatment of patients attacked with the diseases. The huge amount of money could be diverted to development only if supply of pure water and countrywide sanitation can be ensured, they said.

They underscored the need for launching a massive awareness campaign involving all quarters, including NGOs, to attain the goals.

The seminar was a organised jointly by Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), WHO, UNICEF and NGO Forum. It was held at the Social Welfare Department office auditorium at Kalibari in the city.

Presided over by Social Welfare Department Deputy Director M Shawkat Md Kamal, the seminar was attended by PHED Superintending Engineer AKM Ehasanul Huq as chief guest and CARE Programme Manager IV Ray, UNICEF Divisional Chief Tarikul Alam and PHED Executive Engineer Abdul Wahaf as special guests.

Principal Dr Sunil Baran Halder presented the key-note paper. The speakers included Golam Mowla of FPAB, AVAS Director Rahima Sultana Kazol, BNDN Secretary Ranjit Dutta, journalist Kazi Mokbul Hossain, PHED Engineer Nurul Huda Chowdhury and NGO Forum officials Mashiul Alam Polash and Delwar Hossain.

Ehasanul Huq said the main challenges facing the country's health sector are arsenic contamination of groundwater, fall in water table and salinity in water in the southern districts.

Tarikul Alam said 80 per cent of the diseases in Bangladesh break out due to want pure drinking water and sanitation. This mis because of lack of awareness.