Most of the rivers in the country are experiencing low water flow during this dry season. Like other countries across the globe Bangladesh is also facing difficulties to ensure safe and pure water for its people. But braving all sorts of odds, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League has taken various effective initiatives to ensure pure and safe water for every citizen.
A large number of people living in remote, backward and char area face acute water crisis during dry season. Country’s most rivers including Padma, Meghna, Jamuna and Brahmaputra have already started experiencing low water flow. Many parts of these rivers have already been dried up. A number of shoals have emerged as the water level of the river continued to fall.
Unplanned construction of embankments and culverts, unabated encroachment, absence of dredging, lack of water flow, urbanisation, siltation, earthquakes, climate change and construction of barrages and withdrawal of water with the construction of dams in the upstream are contributing to killing of the rivers.
Delta Plan-2100 should address the need
for river dredging and bringing back river
navigability
According to media reports, Padma and Mahananda rivers in Rajshahi are being dried up gradually. Besides, Teesta water flow is also coming down while many shoals have already emerged in these rivers. Padma, Meghna, Jamuna and Brahmaputra and their branch rivers crisscrossing throughout the country are the main sources of surface and ground water. Therefore, to increase the sustainable use of surface water, the government will have to re-excavate big ponds, ditches, and water reservoirs and ensure their water filtration systems and protection from pollution and surface discharge.
World Bank in its recent report said Bangladesh can reduce poverty and accelerate growth faster by taking urgent actions to improve the quality of water and sanitation. According to Poribesh Bachao Andolon’s report, in 1960, the estimated area of water bodies and low lands in the capital was respectively 2,952 hectares and 13,528 hectares, which has reduced to 2,104 hectares and 12, 718 hectares. The government has been working to excavate 10,000 kilometers of waterways as part of its election manifesto.
The government’s the Delta Plan-2100 should address the need for river dredging and bringing back river navigability. Also, we need to find out nature-based solutions to improve water management in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna basin, home to approximately 620 million people in five countries – China, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal.
