THE GANGES WATER DISPUTE : ENVIRONMENTAL AND RELATED IMPACTS ON BANGLADESH

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the environmental and related socio-economic impacts on Bangladesh resulting from the Ganges water dispute with India. It examines the consequences of the unilateral diversion of water by the Farakka Barrage, particularly during the dry season. The study details the severe environmental degradation in southwestern Bangladesh, including increased salinity in rivers and soils, damage to the Sundarbans mangrove forest, adverse effects on fisheries, and disruptions to navigation and agriculture. The research argues that the dispute is not merely about water sharing but is a critical issue of ecological security and sustainable development for Bangladesh. The paper concludes by emphasizing the urgent need for a just, equitable, and permanent water-sharing treaty to mitigate the devastating long-term impacts.

The dispute over the sharing of the Ganges water is one of the most critical and long-standing issues in Bangladesh-India relations, with profound environmental and socio-economic consequences for Bangladesh. This paper offers a detailed assessment of these impacts. The analysis begins by outlining the hydrological context of the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna river basin and the crucial importance of the Ganges flow for the ecological balance of southwestern Bangladesh. The core of the study is a multi-sectoral examination of the impacts of reduced dry-season flow due to the Farakka Barrage. It documents the process of desertification, the alarming increase in salinity intrusion which has devastated agriculture and threatened the unique ecosystem of the Sundarbans, and the severe decline in river fisheries, a vital source of protein and livelihood for millions. The paper also explores the secondary impacts, such as the challenges to inland navigation and the increased health risks associated with the use of contaminated surface water. The findings paint a stark picture of a large-scale, man-made ecological disaster. The paper argues that short-term, ad-hoc agreements are insufficient and that the long-term environmental and economic security of a significant part of Bangladesh depends on the establishment of a durable treaty that guarantees a fair and minimum flow of the Ganges water.