The regional and global threats to Bangladesh's rivers have made the situation worse. Both these deficits need to be overcome to put Bangladesh on a path toward an effective, pro-people, and sustainable water development, an expert has said.
To bring about that way of change, Dr S Nazrul Islam, chief of Development Research of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (Desa), has published an in-depth research book.
Panelists at a discussion on Thursday expected that this book would help bring about that transition. They discussed the topics on this research paper and gave their suggestions on how this book is helpful for development of water situations in Bangladesh.
The event was organized by Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) in the evening.
Dr Binayak Sen, director general of BIDS, moderated the discussion.
Also Read- Delay could mean death for climate migrants
Presenting the research book, titled “Water Development in Bangladesh: Past Present and Future”, the author said that, about 70 years ago, a water development strategy, known as the Cordon approach, was imposed on Bangladesh, primarily by external agencies.
This strategy did not serve Bangladesh well. “Regional and global threats to Bangladesh's rivers have exacerbated the situation. The way out from this predicament is through adoption of the Open approach. There are both knowledge- and material interest-related obstacles to the adoption to the Open approach.”
The author elaborates in his publication about land and water situations of Bangladesh. He explains the commercial, cordon, ecological and open approaches to rivers. He also reviews the past water situation of Bangladesh.
Noted Bangladeshi economist Rehman Sobhan observed that the research deserved a full-scale discussion. It should be done in separate sessions over two to three days.
Also Read- ADB provides $157 mn to mitigate flood, riverbank erosion risks in Bangladesh
Prof Sujit Kumar Bala of the Institute of Water and Flood Management at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) said: “We hope to add a lot of work to this research experience. However, before that, we need to review and know better.”
The author Dr S Nazrul Islam focused on frontal version of the commercial approach to rivers.
He pointed out that any river water that passes to the sea is a waste.
The study mentioned a large chapter on the Bangladesh Delta Plan.
State Minister for Planning Dr Shamsul Alam disagreed with Dr Nazrul Islam's remarks that the government's Delta Plan had not given enough importance on water management in the past.
He said that the Delta Plan, a 1,200-page-long project, is designed to tackle the adverse impacts of climate change. It is taking action by implementing 80 projects.
“We did 26 researches on mistakes and errors of the projects in the first two years,” the state minister added.
“We are working on a policy regarding the flood situation. There is also a need for flooding for the environment. So, we're not working on a complete shutdown. I’m working on its management. And we also agree that the river structure is not good. However, there is a need for it, so the structure is being built. It may be through under the river, but it costs three times as much.”