Swedish Crown Princess visits rain harvesting project, UDC at Koyra

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill Ambassador Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden today visited “JaggoTemple” area of Nayani village under Moheshwaripur union of coastal Koyra upazila, adjacent to the Sundarbans, in Khulna.

Before leaving Koyra, the Crown Princess visited the rain water harvesting system, built by the LOGIC project under the Local Government Department (LGD) funded by UNDP, UNCDF, the European Union (EU) and the government of Sweden.

She observed the salt-free fresh and safe drinking water activities from the rain harvesting system in the temple area and exchanged views with the beneficiaries.

While exchanging views, the beneficiaries explained to the Princess about the scarcity of safe drinking water due to the salinity problem of the country’s southern coastal areas before planting the rain harvesting water system.

Women had to go far to collect saline-free safe drinking water for their families and also faced difficulties in previous years, they said, adding: “But now, we are getting saline-free fresh safe water easily after setting up the rain harvesting system.”

Later, the Crown Princess visited different projects including farming sheep, fish and honey collecting and marketing of Climate-Change and Livelihood Development Cooperative Society as part of climate-resilient livelihoods under the LOGIC project at the same union.

She visited the digital center and their service set up at Maharajpur union building of the upazila and witnessed how the authority concerned provides digital services to the villagers. She also enjoyed folk songs regarding the benefits and services of the digital center.

Later, the Princess inaugurated a smart service point of the post office of the Directorate of Bangladesh Post Office at Koyra sadar.

Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Mr. Johan Forssell, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury and State Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Zunaid Ahmed Palak, among others, were present.

Earlier, the government officials led by Additional Divisional Commissioner (revenue) Md Firoz Shah welcomed the Crown Princess Victoria at the temporary helipad at Nayani Ground in Gilabari United Academy under Moheshwaripur Union Parishad (UP) of Koyra upazila around 8am. (BSS)