Transparency completely missing in Bangladesh's water management: Experts

Transparency and accountability are essential to addressing climate change and water issues, but these are completely missing in Bangladesh, climate experts have said.

Speaking at a book launch event in Dhaka today (22 January), water resource and climate change expert Prof Ainun Nishat stressed the need for a comprehensive approach to addressing water-related issues.

ActionAid Bangladesh organised the launch event for the publication titled "10 Years of Water Discourse in Bangladesh: The Contribution of Water Museum" at a hotel in the capital.

The publication emphasises the importance of managing water resources based on environmental and humanitarian needs rather than political interests.

At the event, Aniun Nishat said water is a finite resource that never increases globally. To address water issues, we need to consider engineering, ecological, and environmental aspects. 

"The world is facing climate change challenges, and water is at the core of these problems. Without transparency and accountability, we cannot solve these issues, and unfortunately, Bangladesh is lacking in both."

He also highlighted the challenges of engaging policymakers, saying, "We had great difficulty explaining to policymakers that rivers not only carry water but also sediment. Sediment has a size, and its movement depends on the energy provided by the river's slope."

Addressing transboundary water issues with India, Prof Nishat pointed out that discussions often focus solely on water, neglecting the critical factor of sediment management. 

"We discussed the 1997 Water Law, but it is unrealistic. The transboundary water issue is entirely political and should be handled accordingly, with legal aspects coming last."

Prof Imtiaz Ahmed, executive director of the Centre for Alternatives, called for a regional body to address water issues among South Asian countries such as India, Bangladesh, Nepal, China, and Bhutan.

"This is the right time to create a regional platform to address water issues collectively. India now seeks Bangladesh's support to counter China's influence on transboundary water. Bangladesh must assert its rightful share of water resources," he said.

Imtiaz also underscored the need to shift perspectives on water management. 

He added, "Our education system is too land-centric and territorial. We need to introduce a water-centric curriculum because water is not something that can be controlled or held."

Ibrahim Khalil Al-Zayad, chairperson of ActionAid International Bangladesh Society, presided over the event, while environmental and climate change consultant Dr Haseeb Md Irfanullah, Dr Samiya Selim, director of the Centre for Sustainable Development at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh, and Dr Mansee Bal Bhargava, national president of the WICCI-Water Resources Council, also spoke, among others.