Water Scarcity in Bangladesh

The report examines the causes and consequences of water scarcity in Bangladesh, focusing on the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) basin. It analyzes bilateral water treaties between India and its neighbors (Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh) and evaluates the effectiveness of multilateral organizations like the Nile Basin Initiative and the Mekong River Commission to identify best practices for regional cooperation. Primary research indicates a long-term decline in the dry-season flow of the Padma River, potentially exacerbated by the Farakka Barrage, while rainfall patterns remain largely stable. Stakeholder mapping reveals significant communication gaps between policymakers and affected populations, and the report suggests that water scarcity can act as a trigger for localized conflict, particularly in the Padma basin.

• Bangladesh is highly dependent on transboundary water sources, with 92.5% of its surface water originating from outside the country, making it susceptible to the water management practices of upper-riparian states.
• Long-term rainfall data from eight distinct regions in Bangladesh show no substantial declines or shifts, with most areas exhibiting stable, cyclical patterns.
• The Padma (Ganges) River has experienced a long-term decline in dry-season flow since the mid-1960s, a trend that appears to have been exacerbated by the operation of the Farakka Barrage starting in 1975.
• In contrast to the Padma, the Teesta and Kushiara rivers do not show significant long-term declines or variations from historical average flows.
• Stakeholder analysis reveals a critical communication gap where affected populations are largely excluded from policymaking and are often ignorant of the treaties and projects impacting their livelihoods.
• The 1960 Indus Waters Treaty is recognized as a landmark of cooperation that has survived three wars between India and Pakistan, though it remains highly politicized within Pakistan.
• The 1996 Ganges Water Treaty established a 30-year sharing arrangement at Farakka, but its effectiveness is challenged by lower-than-anticipated river flows and a lack of transparency.
• The Mekong River Commission (MRC) is praised for its technical knowledge base but criticized for its inability to deter dam construction in upper-riparian China and Myanmar, who are not full members.
• The Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) serves as a transitional mechanism, but it has struggled to establish a permanent legal framework due to disputes between upper-riparian states and lower-riparian Egypt and Sudan.
• The South Asia Water Initiative (SAWI) is the only current multilateral framework promoting transboundary water cooperation across the Greater Himalayan Region, focusing on knowledge and dialogue.

APA

Kolås, Å., Barkved, L., Bhattacharjee, J., Edelen, K., Hoelscher, K., Holen, S., Jahan, F., Jha, H. B., & Miklian, J. (2013). Water Scarcity in Bangladesh. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/d2e6ad47-9013-456e-8a98-4e0026c82ebd/PRIO Report - Water Scarcity in Bangladesh.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Kolås, Åshild, Line Barkved, Joyeeta Bhattacharjee, Katherine Edelen, Kristian Hoelscher, Silje Holen, Farzana Jahan, Hari Bansh Jha, and Jason Miklian. Water Scarcity in Bangladesh. Peace Research Institute Oslo, 2013. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/d2e6ad47-9013-456e-8a98-4e0026c82ebd/PRIO Report - Water Scarcity in Bangladesh.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

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BibTeX

@techreport{kols2013water, author = {Kolås, Åshild and Barkved, Line and Bhattacharjee, Joyeeta and Edelen, Katherine and Hoelscher, Kristian and Holen, Silje and Jahan, Farzana and Jha, Hari Bansh and Miklian, Jason}, title = {{Water Scarcity in Bangladesh}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, year = {2013}, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/d2e6ad47-9013-456e-8a98-4e0026c82ebd/PRIO Report - Water Scarcity in Bangladesh.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }