Khulna Faces Water Crisis as Dry Season Intensifies

Khulna, Bangladesh – Residents of Khulna city are grappling with a severe water shortage as the dry season deepens, with authorities struggling to meet demand amid dwindling groundwater levels and reduced flow from the Ganges River. The crisis, which has escalated in recent weeks, highlights ongoing challenges in one of Bangladesh’s most climate-vulnerable regions.

Local officials report that water supply from the city’s main treatment plant, which draws from the Ganges via the Gorai River, has dropped by nearly 30 percent compared to last year. This decline is attributed to lower upstream water releases from India’s Farakka Barrage, a perennial issue that affects water availability in southwestern Bangladesh. As a result, many neighborhoods, particularly in low-lying areas, are experiencing intermittent supply or no water for days at a time.

“We are facing a critical situation,” said Md. Shahidul Islam, chief engineer of the Khulna Water Supply and Sewerage Authority. “Our production capacity is around 100 million liters per day, but demand exceeds 130 million liters. We are trying to ration supplies, but it’s not enough.”

Residents have taken to the streets in protest, with some communities blocking roads to demand immediate action. In the Khalishpur area, hundreds of people gathered on Wednesday, holding placards that read “Water is our right” and “Stop the crisis.” Local business owner Rina Begum described the hardship: “We have to wait for hours to collect water from tankers. Sometimes, we get nothing. My children are falling sick from dehydration.”

The crisis also threatens agriculture in surrounding districts, where farmers rely on groundwater for irrigation. The Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation has warned that rice and vegetable yields could drop if the dry spell continues. In the Satkhira and Bagerhat regions, canals and ponds have dried up, leaving livestock without drinking water.

Environmental experts link the situation to broader climate change impacts, including rising temperatures and erratic rainfall. Dr. Ayesha Khatun, a hydrologist at Khulna University, noted that the city’s groundwater table has fallen by an average of two meters per decade. “We are over-extracting without adequate recharge. This is not sustainable,” she said.

The government has deployed additional water tankers and announced plans to dredge the Gorai River to improve flow. However, these measures are seen as temporary. Long-term solutions, such as building new reservoirs and enhancing regional water-sharing agreements with India, remain stalled.

On the international front, the crisis underscores the fragility of transboundary water cooperation in South Asia. The Ganges Water Sharing Treaty between India and Bangladesh, signed in 1996, is up for renewal, but negotiations have been slow. Analysts say that without a reliable agreement, cities like Khulna will continue to face seasonal shortages.

Meanwhile, humanitarian groups have stepped in to provide emergency supplies. The International Committee of the Red Cross has distributed water purification tablets and hygiene kits to affected families. “We are focusing on the most vulnerable, including children and the elderly,” said local aid coordinator Farid Hossain.

As the dry season is expected to last until June, Khulna’s residents brace for more hardship. The city, once known for its lush mangroves and rivers, now faces a stark reminder of the region’s vulnerability to water scarcity. Authorities urge conservation, but for many, the immediate need is simply access to clean drinking water.