An escalating environmental crisis is taking hold across 12 districts in northwestern Bangladesh, fueled by the unilateral withdrawal of water at India’s Farakka Barrage. Once vibrant rivers are now dry for most of the year, giving rise to vast chars and accelerating desertification in one of the nation’s most agriculturally important regions.
Research from the Institute of Environmental Sciences at Rajshahi University reveals that water diversion from the Padma River has drained 33,680 hectares of beels, 84,498 ponds, and 610,467 hectares of floodplains. These natural water reservoirs are vital for agriculture, fisheries, and livestock, all of which are now under severe threat.
The Barendra region, including Rajshahi, faces a critical groundwater shortage. According to a report from the Bangladesh Water Resources Planning Organization (WARPO), groundwater levels in 71 percent of the area are at medium to very high risk. More than 300 deep tube wells managed by the Barendra Development Authority are either partially or completely inoperative.
Climate change is compounding the crisis. Over the past five decades, Bangladesh’s highest recorded temperature has risen by 5°C, while rainfall in districts near the Padma has dropped significantly. The resulting water scarcity is transforming fertile lands into arid zones, threatening food security and local livelihoods.
Environmental scientists warn that the ecological health of the Padma River and its basin is being irreversibly damaged. Over 3,000 chars—newly formed river islands—now house thousands of people who face chronic water shortages, making agriculture nearly impossible for much of the year.
The crisis highlights the urgent need for sustainable transboundary water-sharing agreements and coordinated environmental policy to prevent further ecological and humanitarian fallout.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
