'Water decides my day before I do': Do sustainable futures require reimagining water?
From the dry riverbeds of the Teesta to the urban sprawl of Dhaka, the message was clear: We must transition from technocratic control to accountable, hydro-social governance that centers on the most vulnerable
The 11th International Water Conference (IWC-11), hosted virtually by ActionAid Bangladesh on 21–22 January 2026, marked a decisive pivot in the global environmental discourse. Moving beyond the traditional view of water as a mere commodity to be managed, the conference championed water as a living system and a fundamental human right.
Against the backdrop of Bangladesh's historic accession to the UN Water Convention, this global platform convened over 500 participants from 10 countries—including Australia, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, the UK, Vietnam, and Bangladesh.
Through 4 thematic sessions, 15 expert presentations, and vibrant cultural dialogues facilitated by 10 global discussants, the conference addressed the implementation gaps, policy incoherence, and ecological stress driving today's water crisis.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
From the dry riverbeds of the Teesta to the urban sprawl of Dhaka, the message was clear: We must transition from technocratic control to accountable, hydro-social governance that centers on the most vulnerable.
SECTION 1: CULTURE AS RESISTANCE
Water Speaks for Water Justice
The conference opened not with policy jargon, but with the 'language of protest'– culture. Moderated by Farah Kabir, country director of ActionAid Bangladesh, this session established that water justice is intrinsically linked to identity, memory, and heritage.
Echoes of Rivers: The Art of Advocacy
Aminur Rahman Mukul, director of Palakar, introduced the session by framing water not as a resource, but as the essence of our existence. The session featured a soul-stirring musical tribute to the late Farida Parveen, followed by Stories of Water, a poignant drama performed by the Happy Home Girls. This performance was not merely entertainment; it was a visceral representation of the struggles faced by riverine communities, conveying hope and responsibility for restoring dying rivers like the Halda and Shitalakshya through the power of art.
Kuakata Water Museum: Archiving the Struggle
The conference spotlighted the Kuakata Water Museum as a physical testament to the history of rivers and the communities that depend on them. It serves as a guardian of traditional ecological knowledge, documenting the riverine struggles of the coastal people. It is a space where the history of water "bankruptcy" – the drying up of rivers and the loss of fish species – is juxtaposed against the community's demand for justice.
Panir Pathshala: A Platform for Change
Distinct from the museum, Panir Pathshala (Water School) was presented by Architect Jalal Anis as a forward-looking living classroom. Located in Chakaria, it is an educational initiative designed to foster regional empathy and agency among the youth. It transforms water education from dry textbooks into immersive experiences, teaching the next generation that water connects rather than divides.
Global Solidarity through Culture
Irene Leonardelli from the Global Network of Water Museums and Sukrit Sen from the Living Waters Museum (India) showcased international solidarity. Sen noted that children today often carry "fear" regarding climate change. He emphasised that cultural institutions must help transform that fear into agency, ensuring that local knowledge guides decision-making.
SECTION 2: WATER JUSTICE AND GOVERNANCE
Session 1
Water Justice and Governance
The first thematic session of the 11th IWC underscored the urgent need for just, inclusive, and sustainable water governance amid growing climate and ecological challenges. Discussions highlighted how unequal access, fragmented governance, and development-driven priorities continue to intensify water insecurity and social vulnerability.
Experts explored evidence-based river governance, gendered impacts of water scarcity, reproductive health risks linked to salinity and contamination, and the environmental costs of coal-based energy projects. Speakers stressed that technical interventions alone are insufficient without rights-based governance, community participation, and gender-sensitive planning.
The session also emphasised circular economy approaches, ecosystem restoration, and cross-sectoral collaboration as essential pathways toward resilient water systems that protect both human wellbeing and ecological sustainability.
Call to action: Prioritise people-centred, climate-resilient water policies now.
Session 2
Urban Water Futures
The second thematic session of the conference focused on building resilient and inclusive urban water systems amid growing climate risks and rapid urbanisation. Discussions highlighted the need to move beyond infrastructure-centric approaches toward adaptive governance that integrates social equity, ecological sustainability, and community participation.
Panellists explored nature-based flood management strategies in Feni, governance lessons from China's Dianchi Lake, and eco-restoration proposals for the Buriganga River through biofiltration, recycling, and digital monitoring. Speakers stressed that fragmented governance, pollution, and unplanned urban growth continue to threaten water security and ecosystems.
Discussants further emphasised gender-sensitive planning, climate justice, and polycentric governance approaches that empower communities while combining technical innovation with inclusive decision-making and long-term environmental resilience.
Call to action: Build inclusive, climate-resilient urban water systems that prioritise people and ecosystems.
Session 3
Climate Crisis & Innovation
This season explored how innovation can address the deepening climate-water crisis. Discussions highlighted how climate change, governance failures, and environmental degradation continue to deepen water inequities, particularly for vulnerable communities.
Presentations showcased climate-resilient innovations including atmospheric water generation, youth-led community engagement through gamified clean-up initiatives, and improved ballast water management to protect marine ecosystems and biodiversity.
Speakers stressed that sustainable water governance requires transparent cooperation, science-informed policymaking, and stronger institutional accountability. Discussants further emphasised linking technological innovation with community knowledge, advocacy, and governance reforms, while promoting ecosystem-based approaches such as rainwater harvesting and wetland conservation.
The session underscored that equitable and resilient water futures depend on ethical, inclusive, and locally grounded solutions.
Call to action: Align innovation, policy, and community action to ensure equitable and climate-resilient water futures.
Session 4
Transboundary Accountability
The final thematic session of the 11th International Water Conference focused on transboundary water accountability and the need for stronger regional cooperation in managing shared rivers.
The session emphasised how institutional fragmentation, political constraints, uneven data access, and upstream interventions continue to affect water justice and river governance across borders. Presentations explored Bangladesh-India river management challenges, erosion and sediment dynamics in the Teesta basin, and the importance of reliable, transparent data for equitable water allocation and disaster mitigation.
Panellists stressed the value of basin-wide governance, year-round data sharing, and inclusive engagement involving communities, youth, women, and civil society. Discussants further emphasised multi-stakeholder cooperation, digital innovation, and international frameworks as essential tools for building trust, resilience, and sustainable transboundary water governance.
Call to action: Strengthen regional cooperation and data sharing to ensure fair and sustainable transboundary water governance.
SECTION 3: CONFERENCE RECOMMENDATIONS
Derived from the conference deliberations, IWC-11 puts forward the following call to action:
- Recognise Water as a Living Entity: Shift legal frameworks to recognise rivers not as commercial commodities but as living entities with rights to flow, biodiversity, and sediment.
- Address the Reproductive Crisis: Public health policies must urgently address the gendered health impacts of salinity (e.g., pre-eclampsia). Water governance must prioritise domestic and reproductive water security over industrial abstraction.
- Leverage the UN Water Convention: Utilise Bangladesh's accession to the convention to push for transparent, multilateral data-sharing and equitable management of all 57 transboundary rivers.
- Institutionalise Post-Disciplinary Action: Break the silos between engineers, sociologists, and artists. Water governance bodies must include cultural and social scientists to address the human dimension of water.
- Invest in Water Museums: Scale up Water Museums and Panir Pathshala initiatives as essential educational tools to build intergenerational knowledge and community stewardship.
- Stop Techno-Fakes: Prioritise nature-based solutions (green buffers, wetland restoration) over grey infrastructure that disconnects rivers from their floodplains.
SECTION 4: CONCLUSION
"Water decides my day before I do."
"Water governance is ultimately about power, survival and inequality. Water decides people's lives long before policy does,"
—Farah Kabir, Country Director, ActionAid Bangladesh
"Water is not just H₂O. It is shaped by pollution, power, politics and profit. Unless we recognise this, governance frameworks will continue to fall short. We must begin to see rivers as living entities, not resources, and ensure accountability at every level. Building a shared understanding of water beyond borders is essential for meaningful regional cooperation in South Asia."
— Professor Dr Imtiaz Ahmed, Executive Director, Centre for Alternatives
The 11th International Water Conference concluded with a pledge to sustain multi-stakeholder solidarity. While systemic change takes time, the convergence of youth innovation, cultural resilience, and international law offers a clear pathway forward. We envision a future where water connects—rather than divides—people, policies, and generations.
Participant's list:
Farah Kabir, Country Director, ActionAid Bangladesh
Dr Imtiaz Ahmed, Executive Director, Centre for Alternatives
Md Abul Kalam Azad, Manager (Just Energy Transition), ActionAid Bangladesh
Dr Champa M Navaratne, Emeritus Professor, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka
Dr Yang Hui, Diretor, Confucius Institute, Dhaka University
Mohammad Abu Sayed, Director, Joint River Commission
Dr Emma Porio, Professor, Ateneo de Manilla University
Remy Kinna, UN Water Convention Secretariat Member
Dr Mansee Bal Bhargava, National President, WICCI-WRC, India
Sakib Mahmud, Assistant Chief, National River Conservation Commission (NRCC)
Dr Zhang Jin, Associate Professor, Shanghai Normal University
Dipak Gyawali, Senior research fellow, Nepal Water Conservation Foundation
Dr John Dore, Lead Specialist (Water, Energy, Climate), Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Fayyaz Baqir, Director, Akhter Hameed Khan Resource Centre, Pakistan
Erad Kawser, Executive Director, Build Bangladesh
Aminur Rahman Mukul, Chairman, Palakar
Jalal Anis, Architect, Build Bangladesh
Anika N Haque, Assistant Professor, University of York
Sukrit Sen, Art and Outreach Coordinator, Living Museum, India
Maria Akter Taishee, Department of Geography and Environment, Jagannath University
Tamazer Ahmed, Manager, ActionAid Bangladesh
Dr Nguyen Hong Quan, Associate Professor, Vietnam National University
Nazifa Ishrat Tasnim, Civil Engineer
Dr Jayanta Bosu, PhD faculty, Calcutta University
Muhibul Hasan Arnob, Field Research Assistant, BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD)
Muntaha Kadir, Khandaker Ruhama Amin, Nusrat Sultana, Representative, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
Mir Munes Ifty, Former Deck Cadet, Bangladesh Fisheries Academy
Afia Adiba Hafsa, Representative, Western Technical Institute
