[🇧🇩] Water & River Management of Bangladesh

[Saif]

Date of Event: Apr 9, 2025

Source : https://en.prothomalo.com/opinion/op-ed/6sk1labq18

China's assistance for Bangladesh's river management: Good or bad?
China's approach to river management is fundamentally different from Bangladesh's. China has followed an aggressive commercial approach to its rivers, which has not always yielded positive results. Criticism of this approach is increasingly growing in China.

Nazrul Islam
Published: 08 Apr 2025, 17: 47

The issue of Chinese collaboration in Bangladesh's river management gained prominence during chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus' recent visit to China. There is no doubt about China's advancement in river management technology. Bangladesh's interest to benefit from China's experience and technology is also justified.

Chinese collaboration in river management in Bangladesh began in 2016, just before Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Bangladesh. At that time, it was reported that under China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China was ready to provide a loan of $11 billion.

Many took the opportunity to get involved in project development. As a result, discussions started between the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) and a Chinese company, Power China. Following these discussions, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed, stating that this company would develop a "Sustainable River Management Programme," including all of Bangladesh's major rivers, with priority given to the Jamuna River.

However, the previous government tried to use Chinese river-related cooperation to cover up its failure to secure Bangladesh's rightful share of the Teesta River from India. In that context, BWDB requested Power China to prioritise Teesta River instead of Jamuna River.

Accordingly, Power China developed the "Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project." Later, it was revealed that India had expressed its intention to implement this project. As a result, the then government was left in a dilemma.

During his visit to China, the chief adviser expressed the desire to implement the Teesta project through Chinese companies. Not only that, but during a meeting with China's minister of water resources, he requested China to provide Bangladesh with a 50-year master plan for river management.

This issue deserves serious consideration because past experience with foreign governments or companies developing master plans for Bangladesh's river management have not been promising.

2.

In the 1950s, at the recommendation of the Krug Commission, the United States' International Engineering Company (IECO) from San Francisco was tasked with developing a master plan for Bangladesh's water resources management. Based on this, IECO prepared a two-volume master plan in 1964.

The timeframe for this master plan was 20 years. However, the approach to river management initiated through this master plan has been largely followed in Bangladesh for nearly 60 years.

The approach that IECO promoted for river behaviour is officially called the "commercial approach." The specific form of this for the delta is the "embankment approach."

The main goal of this approach is to disconnect floodplains from riverbeds. To achieve this, numerous embankments, sluice gates, and other structures have been constructed throughout the country. (Detailed discussions on this can be found in two of my recently published books: Water Development in Bangladesh: Crisis of the Current Approach and Proposed Alternatives and Water Development in Bangladesh: Past, Present, and Future).

The results of implementing IECO's master plan are clearly evident: the country's river system is in disarray. Numerous rivers have disappeared, and the remaining ones are in critical condition. On one hand, riverbeds have been filled, and on the other, floodplains have deteriorated.

Many rivers have effectively been "killed" by completely enclosing them within embankments. One consequence of this river management approach is waterlogging, which is now spreading throughout Bangladesh's towns and villages.

An extreme form of the embankment approach is the polders, when the embankment forms a four-sided enclosure. Even before IECO's master plan, in the 1950s, a programme to construct polders was initiated on Bangladesh's coastline.

Just as we are now attracted to China for river management, earlier, the attraction was towards the Netherlands. There, land was reclaimed from the sea through polders to establish settlements.

Bangladesh did not need to reclaim land from the sea. Nevertheless, the Netherlands' "polder approach" was imposed on Bangladesh. However, despite both Bangladesh and the Netherlands being deltaic regions, the similarities are outweighed by the differences.

Whereas Bangladesh's Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers carry approximately 404 and 628 cubic kilometers of water annually, the main river of the Netherlands, the Rhine, has an annual flow of just 75 cubic kilometers. Additionally, Bangladesh's river flow is extremely seasonal, whereas the Rhine has no such seasonality. Most importantly, Bangladesh's rivers bring in nearly 115 million tonnes of sediment annually, while the Rhine brings only 3.4 million tonnes.

The main tasks for Bangladesh's river management are dealing with seasonal flow variations and ensuring proper sediment distribution. These issues are not relevant to the Netherlands.

This lack of understanding led to sediment not being able to reach the interior of the polders. As a result, the land in these polders has been gradually sinking, and in many cases, it has gone below sea level and continues to do so. In other words, foreign advice has pushed Bangladesh's coastal areas toward submersion.

Where Bangladesh's Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers carry approximately 404 and 628 cubic kilometers of water annually, the main river of the Netherlands, the Rhine, has an annual flow of just 75 cubic kilometers. Additionally, Bangladesh's river flow is extremely seasonal, whereas the Rhine has no such seasonality. Most importantly, Bangladesh's rivers bring in nearly 115 million tons of sediment annually, while the Rhine brings only 3.4 million tons.

The main tasks for Bangladesh's river management are dealing with seasonal flow variations and ensuring proper sediment distribution. These issues are not relevant to the Netherlands.

This lack of understanding led to sediment not being able to reach the interior of the polders. As a result, the land in these polders has been gradually sinking, and in many cases, it has gone below sea level and continues to do so. In other words, foreign advice has pushed Bangladesh's coastal areas toward submersion.

3.

China's two major rivers are the Yangtze in the south and the Yellow River (Huanghe) in the north. The average annual flow of the Yangtze River at the Datong survey station is approximately 27,500 cubic meters per second (cubic meters per second). This river is roughly equivalent to our Brahmaputra River, whose average annual flow at Bahadurabad is approximately 22,000 cubic meters per second.

However, compared to the joint flow of the Ganges and Jamuna rivers, the Yangtze has much lower flow. The amount of sediment carried by the Yangtze is less than half of what the Ganges-Jamuna system carries in Bangladesh. As a result, the sediment management issues of the Yangtze River are not comparable to those of Bangladesh.

Although the Yangtze River has seasonal flow variations, they are not as extreme as in Bangladesh, and the soil structure along its banks is different. Therefore, the bank erosion problems of the Yangtze are not as severe as in Bangladesh. The Yangtze is not a braided river like our Jamuna or Teesta rivers.

China has constructed many large dams on the Yangtze and its tributaries, including the "Three Gorges Dam," which is the largest in the world in terms of electricity generation capacity. As a result of these dams, sediment in the Yangtze River's post-dam sections has been drastically reduced (by some surveys, by up to 93 per cent).

This has increased erosion downstream and led to the degradation of estuaries and deltas. Various channelisation projects on the Yangtze River have caused significant disruptions to the many lakes connected to it.
The average annual flow of the Yellow River in the north is just 2,110 cubic meters per second, less than half of the Meghna River's flow. In the past, this river carried about 160 million tonnes of sediment annually.

China has constructed 4,850 kilometers of dams along both banks of this river (especially in flat areas), which has raised the riverbed height by as much as 30 feet in some areas. As a result, the Yellow River is now often referred to as the "Sky River." In the mountainous areas, about 20 major dams have been built, and as a result, most of the river's flow no longer reaches the sea, causing degradation in its estuaries and delta.

Notably, the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers are each about 3,915 miles and 3,395 miles long, respectively, with both entirely within China's borders. As a result, China has been able to control these rivers effectively, but Bangladesh cannot do the same.

Around 93 per cent of Bangladesh's river flow comes from outside the country's borders. Moreover, the Yangtze and Yellow rivers flow through only 25 per cent and 14 per cent, respectively, of flat areas, with the rest flowing through mountainous regions. Thus, China has been able to control the flow of these rivers through numerous dams in the mountainous areas, which is not possible for Bangladesh.

4.

Like the Netherlands, China's approach to river management is fundamentally different from Bangladesh's. China has followed an aggressive commercial approach to its rivers, which has not always yielded positive results. Criticism of this approach is increasingly growing in China.

The master plan for Bangladesh's Teesta River developed by Power China reflects this same aggressive commercial approach. The proposal to reduce the average width of the Teesta, a braided river, from approximately 3,000 meters to 816 meters raises concerns about its long-term sustainability.

Neither Power China nor BWDB has published any "feasibility report" on this project. Without such essential information, the recent public hearing on Power China's Teesta plan remains unclear in its objectives.

In all, Bangladesh's river system is unique, and therefore, it requires a different philosophy and approach. What is suitable for Bangladesh is a natural and open approach to river management, using domestic technology to gradually stabilise riverbanks.

Experience has shown that it is difficult for foreign experts to fully understand Bangladesh's specific conditions and needs. In fact, in the past, Western experts have failed dramatically in this regard. The Power China-developed Teesta project suggests that any foreign company-dependent initiative in Bangladesh's river management is unlikely to succeed.

However, it is regrettable that after 50 years of independence, Bangladesh still seeks foreign assistance for fundamental planning in sectors like rivers, energy, and education. While the country has made significant strides toward economic self-reliance, when will we become self-reliant in thinking and planning?

*Dr. Nazrul Islam is former head of UN Development Research and professor at the Asian Growth Research Institute.

*This article, originally published in Prothom Alo print and online editions, has been rewritten in English by Rabiul Islam​

 

[Saif]

The clock is ticking on Bangladesh's rivers

Beyond being a mere geographical feature, Bangladesh's network of rivers has historically shaped its identity and sustained its survival. Their slow death now signals an ecological disaster that is threatening the very bases of the country's ecosystem and economy. A recent study titled "Dried-up Ri

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

The clock is ticking on Bangladesh's rivers
Published :
Apr 12, 2025 22:09
Updated :
Apr 12, 2025 22:09

Beyond being a mere geographical feature, Bangladesh's network of rivers has historically shaped its identity and sustained its survival. Their slow death now signals an ecological disaster that is threatening the very bases of the country's ecosystem and economy. A recent study titled "Dried-up Rivers of Bangladesh" by the River and Delta Research Centre (RDRC) lays bare how severe the situation is. It found that a total of 81 rivers that are crucial for agriculture, biodiversity and rural livelihoods are now running dry during the lean season. The crisis is particularly acute in regions such as Khulna, Satkhira, Rajshahi and Kushtia where these rivers once formed the backbone of local life. River-based livelihoods, particularly fishing, are disappearing fast there. Agriculture is struggling, biodiversity is collapsing, and areas that were once green and thriving are now in danger. As these once-mighty rivers dry up, so does the country's hope for a stable and sustainable future.

There are many factors that led to the rivers running empty. Locally, as the RDRC study pointed out, pollution, sedimentation, and rapid urbanisation stemming from negligence and lack of planning have interrupted natural flow of water. Unregulated development reduces the rivers' capacity to carry water, as riverbanks are increasingly encroached upon for housing and commercial infrastructure. But the problem extends beyond Bangladesh's borders. A significant share of the blame lies upstream, where dams and barrages built by India divert, withhold or disrupt the natural flow of transboundary rivers to deprive Bangladesh of essential water during dry seasons. For a country whose whole existence is dependent on these shared rivers, this is particularly concerning. This diminished water flow has wide and terrible consequences. Fishing communities are losing their livelihoods, forcing many to migrate to overcrowded cities. As rivers dry up, silt builds up that makes navigation more difficult. In coastal areas, saltwater is creeping inland, which ruins farmland and contaminates drinking water.

Over the years, various efforts have been made to save the rivers, but their effectiveness has consistently fallen short. While pledges to protect rivers are frequently made by different levels of government and even the courts have ordered action, illegal encroachment and pollution have remained unchecked under the influence of political power and vested interests. As a result, despite good intentions, most efforts have remained confined to promises. In the past, some projects were undertaken to increase water flow through dredging, but those were often irregular and poorly managed. One recurring flaw is dumping dredged soil along riverbanks, only for it to be washed back into the river during the monsoon. This not only wasted effort but sometimes actually made siltation worse. Other small-scale efforts like tree planting or occasional clean-up drives are too limited and insufficient to meet the scale of the crisis.

Immediate and coordinated action is now essential to stem the tide of this escalating ecological crisis. The RDRC study outlines some necessary measures to address the domestic issues such as pollution control, erosion prevention and ecosystem restoration. However, the most pressing challenge involves transboundary cooperation, as most of Bangladesh's rivers originate upstream, particularly in India. Existing dams and diversions on shared rivers have already placed Bangladesh in a vulnerable position. This necessitates bilateral agreements with India to ensure equitable water-sharing, protect downstream flows and ecological balance. Meanwhile, China's longstanding interest in constructing barrages on the Padma and Teesta rivers presents a potential alternative should bilateral talks with India prove unsuccessful. With rivers continuing to disappear day by day, the stakes for Bangladesh are too high for inaction. The country must pursue every available solution to secure its rivers before it is too late.​

 

[Bilal9]

Just wanted to contribute an interesting fact about the river Teesta for all and sundry since I found the follwing in HISTORY OF ANCIENT BENGAL by MAJUMDAR, R. C.

HISTORY OF ANCIENT BENGAL : MAJUMDAR, R. C : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Source: West Bengal Public Library NetworkSource Identifier: handle/10689/13287FieldValueLangdc.contributor.authorMAJUMDAR, R....

archive.org

"Of the numerous rivers in Northern Bengal that flowed into the Ganges or the Brahmaputra, a few deserve special mention as having changed their courses considerably in comparatively recent times. The river Tista (Teesta) at first ran due south from Jalpaiguri in three channels, namely, the Karatoya to the east, the Punarbhava (Purnabhaba) to the west, and the Atrai in the centre. This, perhaps accounts for its name Trisrota (possessed of three streams) which has been shortened or corrupted into (the name) Tista. Of these the Punarbhava emptied itself into the Mahananda. The Atrai, passing; through a vast marshy area known as the Chalan Beel (Jheel), joined the Karatoya, and the united stream fell into the Padma near Jafarganj.

The Karatoya was once a large and sacred river and we have still a Karatoya-mahatmya which bears testimony to its sanctity. On its banks stood the city of Pundravardhana whose antiquity reaches back to the Maurya period. The dwindling Karatoya still flows by the ruins of this ancient city at Mahasthangarh in the Bogra district, and forms a fixed landmark in the shifting sands of the fluvial history of this province.

As regards the Tista, the parent stream of the three famous rivers of Northern Bengal, Hunter calls attention to the fact that in the destructive floods of 1787 A.D., it suddenly forsook its old channel and rushing south-east ran into the Brahmaputra. There are, however, reasons to believe that the bed to which the mighty torrent turned on this occasion is an old one which had been deserted in ages long gone by. The sudden change in the course of the Tista in 1787 A.D. was originally regarded by many as having caused the Brahmaputra to sweep through the Jamuna channel, but this view no longer finds general acceptance."

 

[Saif]

Water recycling to ease its crisis

As summer starts, different parts of the country are likely to face severe water crises in the coming days, as a piece of news warns. It is said that in Feni District, water is unavailable from 167,000 tube wells due to the depletion of underground water. Around 70 per cent of tube wells have

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Water recycling to ease its crisis
Tanim Asjad
Published :
Apr 18, 2025 22:31
Updated :
Apr 18, 2025 22:31

As summer starts, different parts of the country are likely to face severe water crises in the coming days, as a piece of news warns. It is said that in Feni District, water is unavailable from 167,000 tube wells due to the depletion of underground water. Around 70 per cent of tube wells have stopped yielding water at some upazilas in the district. So, residents are forced to fetch water from distant sources or consume unsafe water from ponds and ditches, causing serious health hazards. As there is no water in tube wells, ponds, canals, beels or swamps, people are eagerly waiting for rains.

The situation in Feni is not exceptional, as many areas of the country are already in similar crises. Millions of people are struggling to fetch the necessary fresh water for drinking and cooking. Even in some areas, adequate water for washing is not available. This means that people are unable to maintain basic hygiene, leading to increased health risks. Every day, they have to take a long walk to collect water from different sources, and not all of it is clean. So, millions of people have been suffering, not just from the lack of water, but also from the health issues that arise from using contaminated water.

Over the years, groundwater depletion has become a serious concern in the country. This means that the water stored underground, which is crucial for our survival, is being used up faster than it can be replenished. The main reason for this is the excessive extraction of groundwater for agricultural production. As irrigation in Bangladesh is still inefficient, it leads to misuse of water, adding pressure on both ground and surface water, posing a serious threat to ecology. Bangladesh's three main rice growing seasons are December-January to April for Boro, April/May to June-July for Aush, and July-August to November-December for Amon. As the cultivation of Boro has already been completed and the harvesting time is near, the water demand is low now. Nevertheless, the cultivation occurs during the dry winter season, and farmers have to extract significant amounts of groundwater using shallow and submersible pumps. The extraction caused groundwater depletion, and the lack of rain since November has made it difficult to recharge the ground level.

Water extractions by dyeing machines at textile factories also deplete the water table in industrial zones like Narayanganj and Gazipur throughout the year. The persistent extraction leads to a water crisis in urban areas, which intensifies in summer.

Rapid but unplanned urbanisation also increased the problem as unregulated extraction coupled with misuse of water becomes a regular phenomenon. Many households in Dhaka and other cities in the country are used to wasting water instead of preserving and recycling it. Misuse of water is also visible in many educational institutions, commercial centres, and masques, although there is an opportunity to recycle some of the water used there. For instance, installing a recycling system in mosques makes it possible to clean and reuse the water used for ablution. Similarly, recycling mechanisms can be introduced in various educational institutions and offices. Investing in a well-designed recycling system will be beneficial in the long run, although installation and operation costs are initially high.

The depletion of groundwater is a global crisis now. An international study found that rapid groundwater-level depletions are widespread in the 21st century, especially in dry regions with extensive croplands. Moreover, groundwater-level declines have accelerated over the past four decades in 30 per cent of the world's regional aquifers. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of cooperation among the nations to work together to address the crisis. Some countries are even yet to recognise the severity of the situation. This is where policymakers and community leaders play a critical role. They can implement and enforce water conservation measures, educate the public about the importance of such conservation, and invest in water recycling technologies. One of the key tools to fight against the crisis is efficient recycling of used water.​

 

[Saif]

$280m WB loan to improve Ctg water supply

The World Bank would provide US$ 280 million for improving the water supply system in Chattogram as it signed a loan agreement on Saturday with Bangladesh government. Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary, Economic Relations Division (ERD), and Ms Gayle H Martin, Country Director (Interim), World B

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

$280m WB loan to improve Ctg water supply
FE REPORT
Published :
May 11, 2025 02:23
Updated :
May 11, 2025 02:23

The World Bank would provide US$ 280 million for improving the water supply system in Chattogram as it signed a loan agreement on Saturday with Bangladesh government.

Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary, Economic Relations Division (ERD), and Ms Gayle H Martin, Country Director (Interim), World Bank, signed the deal.

The Chattogram WASA under the Local Government Division (LGD) would implement the project to upgrade the water supply system in the port city by 31 December 2030, the ERD said on Saturday.

The project is aimed at increasing access to safe, reliable and climate-resilient water supply and improved sanitation in the port city; and improving the performance and financial sustainability of Chattogram WASA.

According to the ERD, the WB would provide US$ 280 million in loan from its costly credit window -- Scale-up Facility (SUF).

US$ 140.00 million equivalent to 21.345 billion Japanese Yen will be provided from the Scale-up Window (SUW) of the World Bank which will charge 0.25 per cent as front-end fee. The repayment period of this loan is 35 years including a grace period of 5 years.

Commitment Fee of 0.25 per cent is payable on the undrawn amount of this loan; and the interest rate of this loan will be Tokyo Overnight Average Rate (TONA) + Variable Spread.

The repayment period of another $140 million loan will be 12 years including a grace period of 6 years. No Service Charge, Commitment Fee and Interest will be paid on the amount withdrawn from this loan, the ERD said.

The World Bank is the largest multilateral development partner of Bangladesh. It has committed some $43.50 billion for Bangladesh since its independence. Currently, the World Bank has made a commitment of $13.10 billion worth of funds for 47 ongoing projects that cover different sectors including economic and social development, institutional reforms, infrastructure development and energy sector development.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh becomes 1st South Asian country to join UN Water Convention

Bangladesh has officially acceded to the UN Water Convention, becoming the first country in South Asia and the 56th globally to join the treaty.

en.prothomalo.com

Bangladesh becomes 1st South Asian country to join UN Water Convention

UNB Dhaka
Published: 24 Jun 2025, 21: 59

The United Nations logo Reuters file photo

Bangladesh has officially acceded to the UN Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (UN Water Convention), becoming the first country in South Asia and the 56th globally to join the treaty.

The UN Water Convention offers a comprehensive legal and institutional framework to foster cooperation over shared surface and groundwater resources.

Environment, climate change and water resources adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said “Accession to the UN Water Convention is a landmark step for Bangladesh. Climate change, growing populations, and rising water demand require enhanced transboundary cooperation. The Convention will support us in developing more effective and inclusive water policies to ensure long-term water security.”

Bangladesh has longstanding bilateral water agreements and institutions including the Joint Rivers Commission and the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty with India, and maintains cooperation with Nepal, China, and Bhutan.

Bangladesh has actively engaged with the Convention since 2012 and participated in its 10th Meeting of the Parties held in Slovenia in 2024.

Tatiana Molcean, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), welcomed Bangladesh’s accession, saying, “This is a significant move for South Asia. The Convention is a critical instrument for strengthening cross-border water cooperation in a time of increasing climate pressure.”

Sonja Koeppel, Secretary to the UN Water Convention, congratulated Bangladesh and encouraged other South Asian nations and UN member states to join.

She reaffirmed the UN system’s support for Convention implementation, particularly in the lead-up to the next UN Water Conference, to be held from 2 to 4 December 2026 in the United Arab Emirates.

UN Secretary-Generel António Guterres has called upon all UN member states to join and implement Convention.​

 

[Saif]

Chinese hydro-power project won’t affect downstream countries: Envoy

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen on Monday assured Dhaka that the Chinese hydropower project on the Yarlung Zangbo river would not affect water flow to downstream countries, including Bangladesh as it is being implemented solely for electricity generation.

en.prothomalo.com

Chinese hydro-power project won’t affect downstream countries: Envoy

UNB Dhaka
Published: 21 Jul 2025, 22: 35

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen on Monday met with Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain at the foreign ministry in Dhaka. UNB

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen on Monday assured Dhaka that the Chinese hydropower project on the Yarlung Zangbo river would not affect water flow to downstream countries, including Bangladesh as it is being implemented solely for electricity generation.

“China will not withdraw or use any water from the project and the project will not affect downstream countries’,” the Chinese envoy conveyed the message to Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain during a meeting at the foreign ministry here, said a ministry’s press release.

The assurance came against the backdrop of concerns in the lower riparian countries regarding potential impacts on water flow due to China’s construction of a large hydropower project near the Great Bend of the Yarlung Zangbo river, which becomes the Brahmaputra upon entering India and flows into Bangladesh as the river Jamuna.

China has maintained that the project is aimed at clean energy generation and regional carbon reduction, with no diversion of river water, the envoy said.

During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, with a focus on further strengthening bilateral cooperation.

The Chinese ambassador briefed the adviser on the follow-up actions of the recent visit of Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus to China, which included discussions on expanding collaboration in trade, infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, fisheries, green energy, disaster management, and tourism.

The envoy also referred to the recent meetings between the Chinese Foreign Minister and Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser in Kuala Lumpur, where both sides discussed avenues to bolster bilateral ties.

Both countries underscored the need to enhance cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, particularly in view of the ongoing celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and China this year.​

 

[Saif]

How the thirsty are being fleeced

Water, like air, is a natural heritage of every man. Treating it as a profit-making commodity is morally wrong, akin to charging people for the air they breathe in. Regrettably, in Bangladesh, drinkable water - the very essence of life - is becoming increasingly unaffordable due to the authorities'

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

How the thirsty are being fleeced

FE
Published :
Jul 28, 2025 00:17
Updated :
Jul 28, 2025 00:17

Water, like air, is a natural heritage of every man. Treating it as a profit-making commodity is morally wrong, akin to charging people for the air they breathe in. Regrettably, in Bangladesh, drinkable water - the very essence of life - is becoming increasingly unaffordable due to the authorities' failure to protect this vital resource from profit-driven exploitation. On the one hand, public reliance on bottled drinking water is steadily increasing due to limited access to safe, potable water and the questionable quality of water supplied by the WASA. On the other hand, there is a mushroom growth of commercial ventures offering 'safe' drinking water at increasingly higher prices. Thus the ordinary citizens are left with little choice but to pay for what should be a basic necessity. The failure to check the unbridled price hike by holding the profiteers accountable raises serious concern.

The bottled water companies were already raking in hefty profits, as an investigation by the Bangladesh Competition Commission (BCC) revealed in 2023. In fact, the BCC filed a case against seven leading bottled water companies for colluding to collectively set unreasonably high prices, a clear violation of the Competition Act of 2012. The case is still awaiting a hearing. Reportedly, the hearing is being delayed for dubious reasons. Despite this pending legal action, these companies have mindlessly increased prices yet again, citing the flimsy reason of volatile dollar market and increase in the price of raw materials. It shows the companies' blatant disregard for regulatory efforts to hold them accountable and their profit-making tendency over public well-being.

In 2022, when the prices of bottled water were raised citing the same reason, the BCC launched an investigation and found that some of the companies' profit margins increased by as many as 400 per cent in the same year. The business has become so much profitable that the companies can afford giving retailers a commission of Tk 9.0 against the sale of each bottle of half liter water for Tk 20. But the consumers are shown no mercy.

Meanwhile, the city dwellers are doubly fleeced considering that they have been paying water tax and this tax is being raised every year. Water tariff has been increased 14 times in the past 13 years. Yet, the city dwellers cannot drink the WASA supplied water, and they have to spend extra money boiling it to make it potable or purchasing a water purifier, bottled water, or jar water. In few cities of the world does a separate body for water supply exist and this is part of municipal services. But despite the ever-rising water rate WASA did almost nothing to win the confidence of city-dwellers by supplying safe drinking water. Its underground pipeline is said to be old and decaying. Then why has nothing been done all these years? Why are the people burdened with an additional expenditure on account of drinking water? Instead, the WASA too has started supplying bottled water, in line with the other commercial companies. If the WASA too becomes a bottled water supplier and makes monetary gains from it, what interest will the body have in performing its primary duty of supplying safe drinking water? Therefore, both private companies and public entities like the WASA must be held accountable. Regulatory frameworks must be prioritised and strengthened to protect this basic human right for all.​

 

[Saif]

Political will urged to build second Padma bridge, barrage

A strong political commitment is essential to build the long-pending Padma barrage and the proposed second Padma bridge, said Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday...

www.newagebd.net

Political will urged to build second Padma bridge, barrage
Staff Correspondent 27 July, 2025, 23:34

Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir addresses a seminar titled The Necessity of Implementing Padma Barrage and Second Padma Bridge at the BRAC Centre Inn at Mohakhali in Dhaka on Sunday. | New Age photo New Age specials

A strong political commitment is essential to build the long-pending Padma barrage and the proposed second Padma bridge, said Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday.

He said that the lives and livelihoods of nearly eight crore people were linked to the Padma barrage and the second Padma bridge, but very unfortunately no final decisions were made in these regards even after seven rounds of feasibility studies.

Speaking as the chief guest at a seminar titled ‘The Need for Implementation of the Padma Barrage and Second Padma Bridge’, at the BRAC Centre at Mohakhali in the capital, Fakhrul said that such critical infrastructures could only be built if citizens raise their voices and demand action.

He urged citizens to unite beyond political differences and remain firm in their demand, stressing that whichever government comes to power must take action on the issues.

Drawing attention to the environmental and human impact of the Farakka Barrage, Fakhrul said that the negative consequences of the barrage were no longer confined to districts like Faridpur or Rajbari but had also become a pressing issue for the entire southern region.

Recalling that Maulana Bhasani took the Farakka Barrage issue to the international stage, Fakhrul observed that there should be a similar public awakening for the proposed Padma projects.

He said that the movement should continue in the spirit of Bhasani’s movement, adding that united efforts could make anything possible.

Fakhrul reiterated that his party had pledged to build a second Padma bridge.

Centre for Policy Dialogue distinguished fellow Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya raised concerns over the lack of discussions and preparations regarding the renewal of the Ganges Water Treaty, set to expire next year.

He said that the Farakka Barrage in India severely affected up to one-third of Bangladesh’s people and land, yet no technical or strategic dialogue was taking place to safeguard national interests in future negotiations.

Commenting on the Padma barrage project, Debapriya called for its inclusion in the revised budget, expected after the general elections in February, 2026, and stressed the need for a new medium-term development plan.

Eminent water expert and former BRAC University vice-chancellor Professor Ainun Nishat warned that without the construction of the proposed Ganges barrage, the future of Bangladesh’s southwestern region could be bleak.

He said that areas such as Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, and Barguna were already experiencing negative population growth as people are fleeing the areas due to uninhabitable conditions.

He criticised the lack of political will behind the failure to implement the barrage project, saying that technical experts might provide analysis but the decisions on such infrastructures were ultimately political.

Referring to the 1996 water-sharing treaty with India, Ainun Nishat said that although Bangladesh was to receive 35,000 cusecs of water, it had often received far less.

Delivering just 10,000 cusecs to the Jashore-Khulna region could help protect the area, he added.

Economist and BRAC chair Hossain Zillur Rahman said that Bangladesh was experiencing a political turning point, where the main concern was not just the political structure but also the direction and nature of future politics.

He emphasised the importance of capable and transparent leadership, pointing out that political governance should reflect the hopes and expectations of the people.

The seminar was chaired by the National Committee for the Implementation of the Padma Barrage and Second Padma Bridge president Ali Nawaz Mahmud Khaiyam.

Speakers at the event included Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh general secretary Saiful Haque, Ganosamhati Andolan chief coordinator Zonayed Saki, North South University vice-chancellor Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury and Water Development Board former director general Mahfuzur Rahman.​