Bangladesh Rivers Under Siege: Transboundary Water Justice Urgent

Mostafa Kamal Majumder

Mostafa Kamal Majumder

Bangladesh, a nation sculpted by the generosity of rivers, is facing an existential crisis. For millennia, the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna (GBM) river systems—along with their 54 international rivers—have sustained its landscapes, ecosystems, and people. Carrying an immense annual water flow of approximately 1,350 billion cubic meters (bcm) and transporting over 1.5 billion tons of sediment from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal, these rivers are the lifeblood of Bangladesh.

However, upstream diversions, primarily by India, threaten their very existence. With no control over the management of these vital water sources, Bangladesh finds itself at the mercy of unilateral decisions, leading to devastating consequences for its environment, economy, and people.

While Nepal and China are co-basin countries, it is India that primarily diverts the water of the GBM river systems, regulating their flows before they reach Bangladesh. India’s extensive dam and barrage networks control the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna, dictating their seasonal discharge patterns. This unilateral management disrupts natural floodplain processes, depriving Bangladesh of vital river recharge, which is essential to keep the waterways alive.

The GBM systems have historically shaped Bangladesh’s delta by continuously depositing sediments, forming fertile floodplains that sustain agriculture and ecosystems. But as water is redirected toward arid regions, it fails to regenerate, and deserts—incapable of sustaining river ecosystems—become graveyards for diverted waters. Meanwhile, in Bangladesh, hundreds of small rivers have died over the past five decades, leaving behind parched land, collapsing biodiversity, and struggling communities. Moreover, the interruption of sediment transport reduces delta formation, causing coastal erosion, weakening flood resilience, and accelerating land degradation. Without its natural sediment supply, Bangladesh’s coastline is increasingly vulnerable to climate-induced disasters, including rising sea levels.

With freshwater flows dwindling, saltwater intrusion has crept 200 miles inland, tainting agricultural lands, drinking water supplies, and entire ecosystems. The most iconic victim of this crisis is the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, and UNESCO’s World Heritage Site for Mankind. Rising salinity levels are slowly suffocating its most valuable tree species—the sundri—jeopardizing the forest’s resilience and endangering the delicate balance of life within.

The degradation of the GBM river systems does not stop at Bangladesh’s borders—its impacts are felt regionally and globally. The destruction of aquatic habitats, dwindling water resources, and loss of fertile floodplains jeopardize food security across South Asia, creating conditions for forced displacement. As livelihoods collapse—especially for farmers, fishers, and coastal communities—the country is witnessing increasing environmental migration. Displaced populations may move into urban centers, neighboring countries, or beyond, adding pressure to already strained resources in host regions. This domino effect risks regional instability, intensifies climate-driven migration patterns, and may ultimately contribute to global humanitarian crises.

Bangladesh cannot address this crisis alone. India must recognize its responsibility as the primary water diverter, but a comprehensive regional approach involving Nepal and China is also critical. Sustainable river management must be a shared responsibility to ensure environmental flows reach Bangladesh and extend down to the sea, sustaining aquatic ecosystems.

A multinational water-sharing agreement, backed by scientific hydrological research and floodplain restoration strategies, is essential to reversing decades of damage. Bangladesh must actively push for: a)Equitable water governance that ensures rivers maintain their natural flow, b) Joint management bodies to oversee sustainable floodplain connectivity, c) International pressure to hold nations accountable for the ecological consequences of unilateral water control, d) Seasonal flow agreements to mimic natural hydrological cycles, preventing ecological collapse.

Bangladesh’s rivers are not simply water channels—they are the arteries of the nation, sustaining its people, economy, and biodiversity. If unilateral upstream control continues unchecked, Bangladesh faces a future of perpetual water scarcity, worsening floods, irreversible salinity intrusion, and ecological collapse. Beyond Bangladesh, the loss of river ecosystems will create ripple effects across the region and the world—escalating climate migration, straining resources, and destabilizing fragile economies. The time to act is now. Without a fair and sustainable water-sharing framework, Bangladesh risks losing not just its rivers—but also its future, and the stability of the wider region.