ABUNDANCE AND SCARCITY OF WATER IN BANGLADESH : ISSUES REVISITED

This article revisits the paradoxical issue of water management in Bangladesh, a country defined by both an abundance of water during the monsoon season and acute scarcity during the dry season. It examines the interconnected challenges of flood control, river erosion, and the equitable sharing of transboundary river flows. The study provides a critical assessment of past and present water management strategies, both at the national level and in the context of bilateral relations with India, particularly concerning the Ganges river. The research argues that a purely engineering-focused approach to flood control is inadequate and calls for a more holistic, integrated water resource management framework. This framework must address both the problem of "too much water" and "too little water" in a coordinated manner. The paper concludes by emphasizing the urgent need for long-term strategic planning and enhanced regional cooperation to ensure the water security and environmental sustainability of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh's geography and hydrology present a profound paradox: it is a land of both devastating floods and debilitating droughts. This paper revisits the critical issues of water management, arguing that the challenges of abundance and scarcity are two sides of the same coin and must be addressed in an integrated manner. The analysis begins by detailing the problem of abundance, focusing on the nature of monsoon flooding and the catastrophic impact of riverbank erosion on lives and livelihoods. It critically evaluates the dominant strategy of "flood control" through the construction of embankments, questioning its long-term effectiveness and highlighting its unintended negative consequences on floodplain ecosystems. The study then turns to the problem of scarcity. The central focus here is the impact of the unilateral withdrawal of water from the Ganges River at Farakka during the dry season, which has had severe ecological and economic consequences for southwestern Bangladesh. The paper examines the history of bilateral negotiations with India and the persistent failure to reach a permanent water-sharing agreement. The findings lead to a powerful conclusion: Bangladesh requires a comprehensive and integrated national water policy that moves beyond ad-hoc crisis management. Such a policy must combine sustainable flood management techniques with a robust diplomatic strategy to secure the country's fair share of transboundary river flows, ensuring water security for its people and the health of its vital deltaic environment.