Bangladesh marks three regions as critically water-scarce zones

Bangladesh has designated parts of Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Naogaon and Chattogram’s Patiya as critically water-stressed areas following extensive surveys under the 2013 Water Act.

At the executive committee’s meeting on Sunday, officials identified 47 unions covering 1,503 villages across 25 Upazilas in the country’s north-west hydrological region as facing acute water scarcity.

In Patiya Upazila, three unions and one municipality were similarly marked.

The meeting, chaired by Water Resources Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan, also finalised the draft “Water Management Policy 2025” aimed at regulating industrial use.

The government plans to form a committee to outline measures within a month to control water use in these zones and ensure safe drinking and domestic water supplies.

The meeting also recommended a survey in Noakhali’s Subarnachar to assess availability, alongside expanding ongoing groundwater studies from 50 to all 191 districts.

For the first time, a “Haor Ecosystem Protection Order” will be issued under the Water Act to safeguard biodiversity and ecosystems in the internationally significant Tanguar and Hakaluki haors, with guidelines for tourism, agriculture, fisheries and forestry.

The council also acknowledged weak enforcement of the 2013 law and agreed to pursue necessary amendments.