Khairul Alam, Back From RAJSHAHI – Residents of the Barind tract, spanning Rajshahi, Naogaon, and Chapainawabganj, are facing a dire water crisis as groundwater levels continue to plummet.
Despite the government declaring vast areas as “critically water-stressed,” illegal extraction continues, threatening both agriculture and basic survival.
A Struggle for Every Drop
In villages like Kondail and Uchhadanga, household tube wells have run dry. Families are forced to trek long distances to reach deep tube wells or rely on a few remaining functional pumps.
84-year-old Tajmul Huq from Uchhadanga shared that even at a depth of 1,400 feet, water is often unavailable.
The crisis has turned once-lush fields into barren lands. In areas like Godagari and Tanore, vast stretches of farmland now resemble deserts because there isn’t enough water to sustain Boro rice cultivation.
Government Restrictions Ignored
On August 25, 2023, the government identified 1,469 mouzas in 25 upazilas as “critically water-stressed”. A follow-up gazette in January 2026 imposed 11 strict restrictions, including:
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A ban on installing new tube wells for anything other than drinking water.
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Mandatory cessation of groundwater extraction for irrigation within two years.
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Prohibition of industrial units reliant on groundwater in these zones.
However, field reports show these rules are being openly flouted. Farmers and business owners are using residential or rice-mill electricity connections to power submersible pumps for large-scale irrigation.
Dying Aquifers
Researchers warn that indiscriminate extraction has led to “dying aquifers”. Professor Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan of Rajshahi University noted that without urgent alternative surface-water sources, the situation will become catastrophic.
Statistics from the Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) indicate that while the government recommended a maximum of 11,400 deep tube wells, there are currently 62,000 shallow tube wells and 4,000 deep tube wells operating in the region.
The Human Toll
According to the Bureau of Statistics, approximately 2.1 million people are currently suffering from this acute water shortage.
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Health Hazards: In areas like Nachole, villagers must share a single pump across 60+ families, paying monthly fees just to access drinking water.
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Economic Burden: Farmers like Sahannara Begum report spending up to 5,200 BDT per bigha just on water costs for Boro crops.
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Environmental Decay: Ponds and canals are drying up, leaving no water for bathing or household chores during the dry months of Chaitra and Baishakh.
An Expert to the Ministry of Water Resources, emphasized that a transition to less water-intensive crops and the restoration of surface water bodies are the only ways to avert a total disaster.