Transboundary Issues and Uncertainty in Water Management in Bangladesh

Bangladesh is the lowest riparian country of the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) basin which constitutes one of the largest river systems in the world. More than ninety percent of the freshwater resources of the country originate outside the political boundary. Currently, Bangladesh faces extreme uncertainty in water management due to increased interventions of the rivers in the upstream reaches in India. Water sharing between the two countries has become a contentious issue since the commencement of the diversion of the Ganges flow at the Farakka Barrage in 1975. Recently disclosed unilateral plan of a mega-project for inter-basin transfer of water by India poses greater threat to the entire water resources, ecology and livelihood of several tens of million of poor people. In this paper, the authors analyze the effect of the apparent basin-wide development on the water resources and pro-poor water management of Bangladesh. The previous experience of the Ganges set a baseline for that analysis. This shows that the entire Southwestern region of the country has been severely affected including agricultural, ecological and socioeconomic sectors. The adverse effects would multiply extending major part of the country if the proposed transfer of water from Brahmaputra basin is realized. Consequently, Bangladesh is in a dilemma for managing its vital water resources and fragile ecology which has profound implication in medium and long term planning for integrated water resources management. This study examines the sensitivity of the water resources system to the anticipated upstream development. Finally, the shortcomings of the recently approved National Water Management Plan in addressing the potential risk have been scrutinized to indicate probable actions to cope with this crucial issue.