Coastal area faces drinking water crisis

Residents across Bangladesh’s coastal belt are grappling with a severe drinking water crisis, now affecting nearly three million people as prolonged drought exacerbates an already fragile situation.

In Khulna city, approximately 25,000 families in 13 wards are facing acute hardship due to shrinking water sources.

Authorities are considering reviving the prime minister’s canal excavation programme to create reservoirs and help restore declining groundwater levels.

Experts have called for the immediate re-excavation of canals across the southwest to ensure a sustainable water supply.

The crisis is most severe in coastal and border areas, where ponds and smaller water bodies have dried up.

Even deep tube wells are no longer providing sufficient water. Increasing salinity has further limited the usability of available sources, making access to safe drinking water increasingly difficult.

In seven upazilas of Khulna and Satkhira, particularly areas adjacent to the Sundarbans, access to potable water remains a year-round challenge.

According to public health officials, groundwater levels have dropped to between 27 and 29 feet, while salinity intrusion continues to contaminate water sources.

Experts warn that without urgent and coordinated intervention, the crisis could worsen, leaving millions more vulnerable across the coastal region.