Crafting Legal and Institutional Frameworks for Groundwater Resources of Bangladesh: From Overexploitation to Sustainable Abstraction

Abstract

Economic activities in Bangladesh are heavily dependent on groundwater resources, which contribute to approximately 79% of total annual water withdrawal. Indeed, Bangladesh has achieved near self-sufficiency in food through irrigated agriculture, and thriving on groundwater, it has become the world’s second-largest garments exporter. This achievement, however, continues to cause significant damage to its invaluable groundwater resources. In short, a growing population, ever-increasing agricultural, industrial, and domestic water demands, and the impact of climate change are all exerting unprecedented stress on Bangladesh’s groundwater systems and supplies. These combined effects result in th..