FAOLEX Database

Bangladesh - Aqualex Profiles

Framework Law

The main law applicable to water resources management, which covers all of the following areas: administration; management, conservation and use of freshwater resources; water rights; waterworks; water supply
Bangladesh Water Act, 2013 (Act No. 14 of 2013).
Date of text: 06 November 2013

Constitutional provisions

Constitution of Bangladesh.
Date of text: 16 December 1972

Right to water: No specific provisions regarding the right to water.

Natural resources: Article 18A states that the State shall endeavor to protect and improve the environment and to preserve and safeguard the natural resources, biodiversity, wetlands, forests and wildlife for the present and future citizens.

Agriculture

Water used for irrigation, forestry and aquaculture
Tanks Improvement Act, 1939 (Bengal Act No. XV of 1939).
Date of original text: 12 October 1939 (1986)
Irrigation Act, 1876 (Act No. III of 1876).
Date of original text: 29 March 1876 (1973)
Embankment and Drainage Act, 1952 ( Act I of 1953).
Date of original text: 07 January 1953 (1972)

Water Supply and Sanitation

Provision of water services by public utilities or commercial organizations; water supply for domestic, industrial or other purposes; right to safe and clean drinking water and basic sanitation; quality of piped water; sewerage
Irrigation Act, 1876 (Act No. III of 1876).
Date of original text: 29 March 1876 (1973)
Town Improvement Act, 1953 (East Bengal Act) (Act No. XIII of 1953).
Date of original text: 15 May 1953 (2021)
Bangladesh Irrigation Water Rate Ordinance, 1983 (Ordinance No. XXXI of 1983).
Date of original text: 10 July 1983 (1990)

Governance

The political, social, economic and administrative systems that govern water management and conservation; good practices; good governance; decentralization; water user’s associations
Water Resources Planning Act, 1992 (No. 12 of 1992).
Date of text: 29 January 1992
National River Protection Commission Act, 2013 (Act No. 9 of 2013).
Date of text: 22 July 2013
Water Development Board Act, 2000 (Act No. XXVI).
Date of text: 25 September 2021

Infrastructure

Waterworks; water supply systems; dams; hydropower systems; irrigation systems
Tanks Improvement Act, 1939 (Bengal Act No. XV of 1939).
Date of original text: 12 October 1939 (1986)
Irrigation Act, 1876 (Act No. III of 1876).
Date of original text: 29 March 1876 (1973)
Embankment and Drainage Act, 1952 ( Act I of 1953).
Date of original text: 07 January 1953 (1972)

Water Resources Management and Water Rights

Ownership and control of water resources; abstraction and diversion of water; allocation and quotas; riparian rights; priority of rights; free water use
Tanks Improvement Act, 1939 (Bengal Act No. XV of 1939).
Date of original text: 12 October 1939 (1986)
Embankment and Drainage Act, 1952 ( Act I of 1953).
Date of original text: 07 January 1953 (1972)
Town Improvement Act, 1953 (East Bengal Act) (Act No. XIII of 1953).
Date of original text: 15 May 1953 (2021)

Water and Environment

Irrigation Act, 1876 (Act No. III of 1876).
Date of original text: 29 March 1876 (1973)
Embankment and Drainage Act, 1952 ( Act I of 1953).
Date of original text: 07 January 1953 (1972)
National River Protection Commission Act, 2013 (Act No. 9 of 2013).
Date of text: 22 July 2013

Water Quality and Pollution Control

Control of pollution and quality of freshwater bodies and groundwater; agricultural point and non-point sources of pollution; water quality standards
National River Protection Commission Act, 2013 (Act No. 9 of 2013).
Date of text: 22 July 2013
Bangladesh Water Rules 2018.
Date of text: 01 August 2018
East Pakistan Water Pollution Control Ordinance (No. V of 1970).
Date of text: 14 February 1970

Groundwater

Freshwater resources located below the surface of the earth; aquifers; groundwater abstraction; well-sinking; boreholes; hydrogeology
Tanks Improvement Act, 1939 (Bengal Act No. XV of 1939).
Date of original text: 12 October 1939 (1986)
Ground Water Management Ordinance, 1985 (No. XXVII of 1985).
Date of text: 25 September 1985
National River Protection Commission Act, 2013 (Act No. 9 of 2013).
Date of text: 22 July 2013

Disaster Resilience

Water-related hazards; flood; drought; water shortage; adaptation to climate change; early warning system/emergency intervention system
Embankment and Drainage Act, 1952 ( Act I of 1953).
Date of original text: 07 January 1953 (1972)
Water Development Board Act, 2000 (Act No. XXVI).
Date of text: 25 September 2021
Paurashava Ordinance, 1977 (Ordinance No. XXVI of 1977).
Date of text: 25 September 1977

Transboundary Waters

Transboundary effects; international basin institutions; international agreements; transboundary coordination; transboundary aquifers
Treaty on Sharing of the Ganges Waters at Farakka.
Date of text: 12 December 1996
Agreement on the ad-hoc sharing of the Teesta Waters between India and Bangladesh reached during the 25th meeting of the Indo-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission held in July, 1983 at Dhaka.
Date of text: 20 July 1983
Indo-Bangladesh Memorandum of Understanding on the sharing of Ganga waters at Farakka.
Date of text: 07 October 1982

Policies

Perspective Plan of Bangladesh 2021-2041
Date of text: 01 March 2020
Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 (Abridged Version).
Date of text: 04 September 2018
Bangladesh Country Investment Plan for Environment, Forestry and Climate Change (EFCC CIP) 2016-2021.
Date of text: 01 December 2017
Second country Investment plan: nutrition sensitive food systems (2016-2020).
Date of text: 25 September 2021
National Strategy on the Management of Disaster and Climate Induced Internal Displacement (NSMDCIID).
Date of text: 13 September 2015
Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC), September 2015.
Date of text: 01 September 2015
Bangladesh Environmental management Framework (EMF) for River Management Improvement Program (RMIP).
Date of text: 01 May 2015
National Aquaculture Development Strategy and Action Plan of Bangladesh 2013–2020.
Date of text: 25 September 2021
National Strategy for Water Supply and Sanitation 2014.
Date of text: 25 September 2021
National Sustainable Development Strategy 2010 - 2021
Date of text: 30 April 2013
National Agriculture Policy, 2013.
Date of text: 25 September 2021
Medium Term Strategy and Business Plan of the Ministry of Agriculture.
Date of text: 25 September 2021
Country Investment Plan - A road map towards investment in agriculture, food security and nutrition.
Date of text: 25 September 2021
National Plan For Disaster Management 2010 - 2015.
Date of text: 30 April 2010
Standing Orders on Disaster.
Date of text: 06 April 2010
National Strategy for Accelerated Poverty Reduction II (Revised) FY 2009 – 11.
Date of text: 01 December 2009
National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA).
Date of text: 01 June 2009
Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan 2009.
Date of original text: 01 September 2008 (2009)
Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan 2008.
Date of text: 25 September 2021
Coastal Development Strategy 2006.
Date of text: 13 February 2006
Aquaculture Sub-strategy, 2006.
Date of text: 01 January 2006
National Sanitation Strategy.
Date of text: 01 March 2005
Coastal Zone Policy 2005.
Date of text: 25 September 2021
National Policy for Arsenic Mitigation, 2004
Date of text: 25 September 2021
National Water Management 2001.
Date of text: 25 September 2021
National Water Management Plan Development Strategy.
Date of text: 25 September 2021
National Agriculture Policy.
Date of text: 25 September 1999
National Water Policy.
Date of text: 25 September 1999
National Policy for Safe Water Supply & Sanitation 1998.
Date of text: 25 September 1998
National Environment Management Action Plan (NEMAP).
Date of text: 25 September 1995
National Forest Policy.
Date of text: 25 September 1994

Main basins

Karnaphuli
Naaf
Fenney
Ganges/Brahmaputra Meghna