WATER has long been a source of both hardship and nourishment in Bangladesh’s coastal deltas and riverine plains. With more than 700 rivers, this low-lying country has long relied on its plentiful water supplies for human use, agriculture and fishing. However, the same water systems that formerly supported development are currently under attack from institutional failures, pollution, unchecked development and climate change. These vulnerabilities are becoming increasingly noticeable as the effects of climate change worsen, particularly for the most vulnerable and impoverished groups.
Climate-related hazards to Bangladesh’s water infrastructure are numerous and rapidly escalating. Rising sea levels are salinising southern groundwater aquifers, while variable rainfall and extended dry spells threaten water supplies in the north and northwest. The Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna basin’s seasonal flows are complicated by glacial melt and changeable monsoon patterns. According to the Bangladesh Climate and Disaster Risk Atlas (2023), more than 70 per cent of the country is subject to at least one significant water hazard, such as floods, droughts, salinity, or erosion.
In rural areas, smallholder farmers who depend on irrigation face declining productivity due to fragile water systems. Over 60 per cent of irrigation relies on groundwater, but in areas like Barind and the Madhupur Tract, groundwater levels are dropping sharply due to overuse and reduced rainfall. Farmers are forced to deepen wells at unsustainable costs or abandon crops altogether during dry months, threatening food security and livelihoods.
Coastal regions such as Khulna, Satkhira and Bagerhat face rising salinity in both surface and groundwater due to sea level rise and tidal surges. This salinisation damages crops and aquaculture while contaminating drinking water. According to the Institute of Water Modelling, nearly 2.9 million hectares could be affected by salinity by 2050, affecting millions. Women and girls bear a disproportionate burden, walking longer distances in increasingly harsh conditions to collect safe water.
Urban water stress is no less dire. In Dhaka, a city of over 20 million, groundwater is being depleted at twice the rate of natural recharge, leading to annual water table drops of 2–3 metres. Simultaneously, rivers like the Buriganga and Turag are choked with untreated industrial waste. Although treatment plants exist, they often operate under capacity or suffer from poor maintenance. The result is a growing gap between rising water demand and deteriorating supply quality.
Future projections paint a grim picture. Average temperatures in Bangladesh are expected to rise by 1.5 to 2.0°C by 2050. Rainfall will become increasingly erratic, with prolonged dry spells and sudden downpours that overwhelm drainage and embankment systems. Many parts of Bangladesh’s water infrastructure, dating back to the 1960s, are ill-equipped for this new climate reality.
The Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 outlines a long-term vision to align climate adaptation, river basin planning and land use. It identifies more than 80 priority projects spanning flood control, urban drainage, salinity regulation and sustainable irrigation. However, implementation remains uneven, hampered by bureaucratic overlaps and underfunding. Experts warn that without strong coordination and monitoring, the plan’s promise may go unfulfilled.
Technological innovation is beginning to change the narrative. Solar-powered irrigation systems are reducing dependence on diesel pumps and groundwater in drought-prone areas. In coastal zones, rainwater harvesting and managed aquifer recharge are restoring potable water access. One notable initiative, the Gachabari project in Satkhira, uses community-managed rainwater tanks to supply safe drinking water during the dry season. Urban pilots featuring smart water meters and leak detection tools point toward more efficient water governance.
Local communities are also asserting agency in managing water risks. Community-Based Water Management Committees, supported by NGOs and donors, help maintain embankments, manage canals and issue flood warnings. In Cox’s Bazar, refugee camps now feature household water treatment and grey-water reuse models that ease pressure on scarce groundwater. These efforts illustrate the crucial role of grassroots leadership in building resilience.
However, these isolated successes contrast with broader systemic challenges. More than a dozen ministries and agencies share fragmented responsibility over water governance, resulting in duplicated efforts and poor coordination. National data systems are often outdated or siloed, hindering real-time planning. Climate finance remains underutilised, while private sector engagement in water innovation remains limited, despite its enormous potential.
To address these challenges, Bangladesh must overhaul its water governance framework. A coherent, equity-driven strategy rooted in accurate data, cross-sector coordination and transparent investment can transform the current trajectory. The most vulnerable communities — those in flood-prone, salinity-affected and drought-stricken zones — must be prioritised. Ecosystems need protection, and partnerships with the private sector, civil society and international actors are essential, particularly for transboundary water governance in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna basin.
Water is central to climate resilience, health, food security and economic growth. In Bangladesh, safeguarding fragile water systems is a matter of national survival. The country has demonstrated remarkable disaster resilience in the past; it must now extend that legacy to water governance.
Dr Makhan Lal Dutta, an agricultural engineer, is CEO of Harvesting Knowledge Consultancy.