They also underscored the need for proper scientific data to address the long-term effect of this silent national disaster.

The roundtable titled 'Long-term water shade management for Bangladesh' was organised by Dhaka Community Hospital at its Resource Centre in the city.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Mahmudur Rahman, coordinator of Dhaka Community Hospital Trust, said, "It's not just a matter of providing a glass of safe water, so many issues including long-term sustainability, affordability and acceptability by the community will have to be considered before taking any measures."

Prof Rahman, also member of the National Arsenic Expert Committee, emphasised the need for review of the government's Arsenic Mitigation Action Plan with a broader understanding of the management of all major water sources in the country.

Prof Ainun Nishat, country representative of The World Conservation Union (IUCN) and member of the National Arsenic Expert Committee, urged the donor agencies to help implement government's Arsenic Mitigation Action Plan.

Prof Dipankar Chakrabarti, director of School of Environmental Studies at Jadavpur University in West Bengal, called for mass awareness to address the arsenic problem.

The discussants also emphasised the role of media in raising awareness among people in this regard.

Prof SKM Abdullah, chairman of National Arsenic Expert Committee, also spoke on the occasion.