Ninetyfive per cent of the country's population has access to safe drinking water and only 37 per cent use sanitary latrines, UNICEF experts said on Thursday.

They also disclosed that 55 per cent of government registered schools have no water and sanitation facilities.

UNICEF has undertaken a project to address arsenic problem in the country and the problem has already been mitigated in five upazilas, they said. UNICEF has a plan to mitigate arsenic problem in 45 arsenic-prone upazilas under the project.

Although the access rate to safe drinking water is satisfactory, the arsenic problem is still a threat to the public health, they said.

These facts were disclosed at the inaugural session of a fortnight-long exhibition on water issues and research titled "Water Days" jointly organised by the Alliance Francaise de Dhaka (AFD) and UNICEF at the AFD gallery in the city.

French Ambassador in Dhaka Michel Lummaux and UNICEF expert Collin Davice attended the inaugural session.

The exhibition includes a series of posters with audio-visual support, presentation on water distribution system in Dhaka city, presentation on sanitation and arsenic contamination, internet documentation, and documentary film shows on water issues.

A roundtable discussion on water issues will also be held on June 8. Specialists from UNICEF, Water Aid, WHO, Water Resources Ministry NGO Forum, French BCEOM, Dhaka WASA and Dhaka University will take part in the discussion. ( The Bangladesh Observer )