Enhancing water governance and water resources management in Bangladesh

Bangladesh, a riverine nation with rivers originating beyond its borders, experiences a climatic paradox characterized by excessive monsoon rainfall (June to September) and minimal precipitation during winter (December to February). This climatic duality leads to recurring hydrological disasters, including floods, river erosion, and droughts, causing substantial losses in agriculture, fisheries, navigation, ecology, and biodiversity. Effective water governance is imperative to mitigate these economic and environmental impacts. This study aims to evaluate Bangladesh's current state of water governance and identify gaps in existing policies and regulations related to water resources management (WRM). It is achieved through a comprehensive review of existing laws, acts, regulations, and policies related to water governance. The study reveals that policy documents developed over the last three decades, aimed at enhancing water governance and reducing vulnerabilities to droughts, floods, and riverbank erosion, have identified only a limited number of critical policy gaps in WRM. The government should prioritize gradually decentralizing management policies to strengthen climate resilience in coastal regions. This research offers insights into improving water governance and WRM and contributes to reducing hydrological disasters in Bangladesh. Additionally, it provides valuable guidance for addressing challenges related to upstream transboundary rivers and formulating future strategies and action plans.