Coping with New Challenges in Water Resources Management in Bangladesh

Abstract: One of the most stressed resources in Bangladesh is water. Major challenges facing sustainable water resources management in the country today include: increasing vulnerability to extreme events, unrestricted extractions, growing urban demand, climate change, land-use changes and environmental requirements. In this context, the study gives an overview of existing water management practices in the country; and elucidates the role of hydrological services including focused Research and development (R&D) in resolving water resources issues. A recent effort in enhancing institutional capacity for decision making is elaborated in the context of implementation of various Hydrology Projects. R&D efforts in water sector are shown to embrace two major roles in furthering sustainable water resources management: i) helping to decrease the vulnerability by furthering development and increasing adaptive capacity, and ii) giving an option to respond to numerous contingencies that an unknown future holds. Citation: Hossein, M.S., Rahman, M. & Tamim, M.M. (2014). Coping with New Challenges in Water Resources Management in Bangladesh. In: Campbell P. and Perez P. (Eds), Proceedings of the International Symposium of Next Generation Infrastructure, 1-4 October 2013, SMART Infrastructure Facility, University of Wollongong, Australia.