DEVELOPMENT OF WATER RESOURCES IN BANGLADESH

This comprehensive study examines the development and management of water resources in Bangladesh during the early 1980s, analyzing the technical, institutional, and policy dimensions of water governance. The article explores the unique hydrological characteristics of Bangladesh as a deltaic country and investigates the challenges and opportunities in harnessing water resources for development. The research analyzes major water management initiatives, including flood control projects, irrigation development, river training works, and drinking water supply systems. The study examines the institutional framework for water resource management, including government agencies, planning mechanisms, and international cooperation arrangements. The article assesses the impact of water development projects on agricultural productivity, rural livelihoods, and environmental sustainability. The research also investigates the transboundary dimensions of water resource management, particularly in relation to shared river systems with India. Furthermore, the analysis proposes an integrated approach to water resource development that balances economic, social, and environmental objectives.

Water resource management represents one of the most critical development challenges for Bangladesh, with this article providing a comprehensive analysis of water development initiatives and their implications in the early 1980s. The research begins by examining the unique hydrological context of Bangladesh, analyzing the countrys position as the lower riparian of three major river systems—the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna—and the implications of this geographical reality for water management. The analysis explores the historical evolution of water resource development in Bangladesh, tracing initiatives from colonial irrigation projects to contemporary integrated water resource management approaches. The article investigates major water development projects implemented during the 1970s and early 1980s, including flood control embankments, drainage improvements, and irrigation infrastructure development. The study examines institutional arrangements for water governance, analyzing the roles of various government agencies, planning processes, and coordination mechanisms in water resource management. The research assesses the impact of water development on agricultural productivity, examining how irrigation expansion, flood control, and drainage improvements have contributed to food production increases. The article analyzes drinking water supply and sanitation challenges, particularly the arsenic contamination issues that were emerging as significant public health concerns. The study investigates environmental dimensions of water development, including impacts on fisheries, biodiversity, and river morphology. Based on the comprehensive assessment, the article develops an integrated framework for water resource development that addresses flood management, irrigation needs, navigation requirements, and environmental conservation. The findings provide valuable insights into how water-rich but vulnerability-prone countries like Bangladesh can manage their water resources for sustainable development and contribute to understanding the complex interplay between water, development, and environment in deltaic regions.