WATER runs through the veins of Bangladesh 鈥� shaping our land, feeding our people and sustaining our economy. With more than 700 rivers and a maze of wetlands, ponds, canals and coastal ecosystems, the country is blessed with extraordinary freshwater and marine wealth. Yet this abundance is underappreciated, undervalued and increasingly under threat. As climate change bites and pressure on resources grows, recognising the true worth of our water is no longer optional 鈥� it is essential for our survival and prosperity.
This abundance is both a blessing and a challenge. Water sustains more than our crops. It is bound to fisheries, transport, energy, ecosystems, public health and even our cultural life. The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics estimates that over 60 per cent of the population depends directly on agriculture and fisheries 鈥� both heavily reliant on healthy water systems. Agriculture alone consumes more than 85 per cent of all freshwater withdrawals. Irrigation has brought gains in food production, but at a cost: falling groundwater levels, creeping salinity and vanishing aquatic biodiversity.
The economic stakes are high. Fisheries contribute nearly 4 per cent of our gross domestic product, much of it from inland waters such as haors, rivers and beels. The hilsa 鈥� our national fish 鈥� sustains rural livelihoods and earns valuable export income. Around 12 million people depend on fisheries for their living, many in small-scale freshwater fishing. Waterways also keep the country moving, offering cost-effective transport, especially in rural and hard-to-reach areas. They reduce reliance on fuel-hungry road transport and cut emissions.
Yet too often, water鈥檚 ecological role is overlooked in policy debates dominated by short-term economics. Wetlands and rivers regulate floods, recharge aquifers, filter pollutants and shelter diverse species. They are our natural buffers against climate shocks. The Sundarbans and Tanguar Haor, recognised internationally for their ecological value, are living proof that environmental health and economic benefit go hand in hand.听
Pollution from untreated urban wastewater, industrial discharge and agrochemical run-off has turned rivers like the Buriganga, Turag and Karnaphuli into little more than open sewers. This is killing wildlife and endangering public health. Over-extraction of groundwater for irrigation, particularly in the north-west, is pushing water tables to dangerous depths. In Rajshahi and Bogura, groundwater levels have plunged by more than ten metres in just two decades. This threatens both farming and household water supplies, hitting poorer families hardest.
Climate change is making matters worse. Erratic rainfall, rising temperatures, sea level rise and fiercer cyclones are altering when and how much water is available 鈥� and its quality. Saline intrusion is creeping further inland. Coastal aquifers are becoming undrinkable. In parts of Satkhira and Khulna, families walk kilometres to find safe water. These are not distant warnings; they are today鈥檚 emergencies.
There are policies on paper. The Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 sets out a long-term vision for managing water and land resources, promising integrated governance, ecosystem protection and climate-resilient infrastructure. The Water Act 2013 calls for conserving water bodies and involving the public in water management. But implementation is weak. Local authorities lack capacity, coordination is poor, pollution laws are flouted and funding is skewed towards concrete and steel rather than restoring nature.
We must rebalance the conversation. Water is not merely a commodity; it is a public good with far-reaching benefits. Investments in nature-based solutions 鈥� reviving wetlands, re-foresting watersheds, restoring rivers 鈥� yield high returns. They cut disaster risks, improve water quality and support biodiversity. Properly restored, the Ganges Basin could become a climate-resilient economic corridor linking sustainable farming, fisheries, river transport and tourism.
People must be part of this transformation. Indigenous and riverine communities carry generations of knowledge about living with water鈥檚 rhythms. Reviving traditional harvesting methods, promoting organic farming to curb chemical run-off, and strengthening community water groups can make governance more inclusive and effective. Education campaigns can shift behaviour 鈥� from reducing waste to standing up for cleaner rivers.
The private sector cannot be let off the hook. Major water-using and polluting industries such as textiles, leather and agro-processing must clean up their act. Investment in water-saving technologies, full compliance with treatment rules and certification for 鈥渨ater-responsible鈥� products should be the norm. Businesses will face growing scrutiny, at home and abroad, over their water footprint 鈥� better to lead now than be forced later.
Bangladesh鈥檚 water future will be decided by whether we value what we cannot always see. If we carry on degrading rivers, wetlands and aquifers, the damage will quietly undermine our growth and our well-being. But if we protect and use them wisely, water can bind together nature, economy and society in a more resilient and equitable Bangladesh. The choice is stark. We can either watch our lifeblood drain away or act now to preserve it 鈥� for ourselves and for the generations to come.
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Dr Makhan Lal Dutta, an agricultural engineer, is chairman and CEO of Harvesting Knowledge Consultancy.
