Safe water crisis deepens in Satkhira’s coastal areas

The crisis of safe drinking water in the coastal areas of Satkhira has escalated to critical levels as climate change, mounting salinity, and depleted groundwater supplies intensify the challenge.

In the rural upazilas of Shyamnagar and Assasuni, collecting water has become a daily ordeal, with villagers often travelling several kilometres—sometimes before sunrise—to secure a basic necessity. Traditional water sources such as ponds, canals, groundwater points and tube wells have become too saline for consumption, severely restricting access to safe water for local families.

Families are compelled to spend significant time, labour and money to fetch water from distant sources. Disrupted education for children, lost income opportunities for women, and escalating health risks—including reproductive complications, diarrhoea, skin diseases and other waterborne illnesses—underscore the far-reaching impact. The water shortage is also undermining agriculture, livestock and irrigation, threatening local food production and the broader economy. This crisis is not merely environmental; it is a test of social equity, public health and community resilience.

In response, a new initiative backed by the Embassy of Switzerland—implemented by WaterAid Bangladesh and Swisscontact, and executed locally by the NGO Rupantar—has rolled out several interventions to improve access to safe water in coastal communities. These include reverse osmosis plants, rainwater harvesting systems, pond sand filters, freshwater reservoirs, and mini water pipeline networks.

Sustainable, institutional measures have also been introduced, engaging elected local government representatives in vision planning, capacity-building for water and sanitation, prioritising water in budget allocations, and integrating safe water issues into multi-year development strategies.

SM Hossainuzzaman, Chairman of Sadar Union Parishad in Assasuni upazila, said, "Previously, water issues were not prioritised in development planning. Now, with the project's support, we are allocating budget for the water sector and initiating efforts with our own funds."

Civil society organisations are also mobilising communities to demand water rights and ensure accountability. Local resident Sharifa Khatun said, "Previously, we did not have the opportunity to voice our concerns about water. Now, we can collectively raise our demands, and the Union Parishad is taking the issue seriously. Even political parties are including water issues in their election manifestos."

Residents are urging authorities to adopt long-term strategies and increase investment in sustainable water management. In the coastal region, the struggle has become one of survival—but initiatives under the GO4IMPact Project are offering renewed hope.