The Surface Water System, Flood and Water Resources Management of Bangladesh
Saiful Alam, Sarwat Jahan, Fahmida Noor
Abstract
Bangladesh is located at the meeting point of three major rivers systems: the Ganges, the Brahmaputra and Meghna from the Himalayas, and is blessed with an abundance of freshwater and fertile land. Bangladesh now faces the twin problems of occasional excess of water during the monsoon season and ever-decreasing dry season flows during winter. The resulting problems of water scarcity, salinity, pollution, drainage congestion, waterlogging and erosion are not always the results of too little or too much water, but the present situation is the result of unplanned, unregulated urbanisation, industrialisation, and population pressure. Climate change is aggravating the situation, affecting the sustainable livelihood of millions of people living in poverty and the ecosystem of the country. This chapter reviews the key interventions, policies, plans, and regulations and attempts to explore alternative solutions to these problems..