A story of sweet hope in salty Khulna town
Thousands of women in Chalna fight every day against saline water, droughts, and a chronic shortage of drinking water.
On the banks of the Pashur River in Khulna lives Mira Rani Biswas, whose life is a daily struggle against saltwater.
When asked where she lives, Mira smiled faintly and said, "There, on the riverbank." Her small house stands on the river's edge.
"During the monsoon season, the saline water invades my yard, my home, and my kitchen. And when winter comes, a new battle begins – the search for freshwater," she told TBS.
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Her words reflect the harsh, unending reality of thousands of women in coastal Chalna – a municipal town where life means living with salt and waging a daily fight for fresh water.
But amid this perennial hardship, a quiet hope had long been smoldering – one that has now begun to materialise through a joint government-ADB initiative that developed ponds to harvest fresh water.
A lifelong battle for fresh water
Mira's struggle is not hers alone. Thousands of women in Chalna fight every day against saline water, droughts, and a chronic shortage of drinking water. In an age where access to safe water is considered a basic human right, this coastal town stands as a reminder of deprivation – where even a glass of pure water is a luxury.
The groundwater beneath Chalna is highly saline. Tube wells yield brackish, undrinkable water. People depend on rainwater or ponds that may be several kilometres away. Many women walk long distances daily, carrying heavy pitchers on their heads, just to bring home a pot of drinkable water.
A 22-year-old woman, Basanti Poddar, has grown up in this battle. Her face bears the marks of exhaustion, yet her voice carries resilience. "Finding water for cooking or bathing takes up my whole life," she said. "When it rains, our house floods with knee-deep water. We fall sick all year round. I've carried water from so far since childhood that my back is nearly broken now."
Women like Mira, Basanti, and Olka seem to have aged long before their time. Their skin bears the burn of the sun, their backs bent from years of carrying water – yet their eyes still hold a spark of hope. And recently, that hope has begun to bloom again.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) have jointly implemented the Second City Region Development Project (CRDP-2), under which two large rainwater-harvesting ponds have been developed in Chalna.
The rise of freshwater
These ponds are now the lifeline of the town – the primary source of safe water for thousands of families. During the monsoon, rainwater is collected and preserved there, treated for use throughout the year. Every day, 10000 to 12000 residents bathe in these ponds, wash clothes, or fill pitchers to carry water home.
In the afternoon, the pondsides come alive with community life – children playing, women chatting, others washing utensils or vegetables. "Once, water meant hardship," says Basanti. "Now, water means life. These ponds are our blessing."
Under CRDP-2, Chalna's entire urban infrastructure has also transformed. A drainage master plan has been prepared and implemented, 4.43 kilometres of canals have been re-excavated, and sluice gates have been installed to prevent saline water intrusion into 721 hectares of agricultural land. Additionally, 3.36 kilometres of roads and seven bridges have been constructed, along with the two rainwater ponds.
A boost for agriculture and livelihoods
Local farmer Habibullah Gazi recalls how life has changed: "Earlier, it took months for floodwater to recede. Now the canals are clean, and the sluice gates help control water. We can harvest crops twice a year now – especially watermelon, which has become a blessing for us."
Lands once rendered barren by salinity are now green again. Farmers who had abandoned cultivation are returning to their fields, finding new hope and livelihoods.
Business and community life reborn
Improved roads and bridges have revitalised Chalna's local economy. Goods now reach markets faster. Where a market trip once took an hour, it now takes just 15 minutes.
Small entrepreneur Piari, who once relied on begging, now sells betel leaves and cigarettes. "The new roads bring more people here," she says. "My sales have gone up a lot."
Food vendor Mintu Mia adds, "In the summer, when water was scarce, I couldn't even serve customers properly. Who'd eat when there's no water to drink? Now it's much better – the ponds have saved us."
Chalna's once-neglected ponds are now vibrant community spaces. In the evenings, laughter and chatter echo along the pond banks. "Before, fetching water took the whole day," say the women. "Now we sit here and share stories. Life feels a little lighter."
ADB Country Director Hoe Yun Jeong, who personally visited the project sites, said, "Bangladesh's coastal towns are among the most climate-vulnerable areas in Asia. ADB is proud to support these investments that are transforming lives and boosting local economies."
He emphasised that small investments can bring big development impacts, and that ADB's integrated approach to urban development ensures both economic and social progress. "Projects like the Coastal Town Climate Resilience Improvement Projects," he said, "play a key role in helping communities adapt to salinity and climate risks. ADB will continue to prioritise such small, high-impact projects in coastal regions."
Dacope Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Asmat Hossain said that every possible effort has been made to improve the living standards of the residents of Chalna Municipality. However, he noted that the maintenance of the newly developed infrastructures under the project now stands as the biggest challenge.
He further mentioned that despite installing several deep tube wells and drilling as deep as 1,800 feet, no freshwater source was found, which means the water crisis in the area remains a serious concern.
Building sustainable cities
The core philosophy of the CRDP-2 project is the "City Region Approach" – reducing pressure on major cities by developing nearby small towns and municipalities in an integrated way. For regions around Dhaka and Khulna, this approach promotes balanced growth, improved services, and resilience against climate threats.
The project's total cost is $223 million, of which ADB contributed $150 million and the Bangladesh government $73 million. After a partial cancellation of $15 million, the final loan stands at $135 million. As of now, 99% of contracts have been completed and 85% of funds disbursed. The project is expected to be completed by December 2025.
Chalna's story is proof that good planning, effective implementation, and community participation together can create lasting change. It is no longer a saline town. Clean water, new roads, bridges, and canals have redefined its landscape. The people who once struggled just to survive are now moving forward with dignity.
