The National water policy, promulgated in 1999 provides policy direction for water sector. Water resources management in Bangladesh faces immense challenge for resolving many diverse problems and issues. The most critical of these are alternating flood and water scarcity during the wet and the dry seasons, ever-expanding water needs of a growing economy and population, and massive river sedimentation and bank erosion. There is a growing need for providing total water quality management, and maintenance of the eco-system. There is also an urgency to satisfy multi-sector water needs with limited resources, promote efficient and socially responsible water use, delineate public and private responsibilities, and decentralize state activities where appropriate. All of these have to be accomplished under severe constraints, such as the lack of control over rivers originating outside the country's borders, the difficulty of managing the deltaic plain, and the virtual absence of unsettled land for building water structures.

The National Water Policy will be reviewed periodically and revised as necessary. It will guide management of the country's water resources by all the concerned ministries, agencies, departments, and local bodies that are assigned responsibilities for the development, maintenance, and delivery of water and water related services as well as the private users and developers of water resources.

The policies set forth are considered essential for addressing the objectives of improved water resources management and protection of the environment. Every public agency, every community, village and each individual has an important role to play in ensuring that the water and associated natural resources of Bangladesh are used judiciously so that the future generations can be assured of at least the same, if not better, availability and quality of those resources. The followings are the key issues of the Policy:

Institutional and Legal Framework

Over 40 different agencies, organisations and categories of organisations are involved in the water sector, of which 35 are organisations related to central Government. At least 13 different Ministries are involved directly or indirectly. The National Water Resources Council is responsible for coordinating all aspects of water management, and issues directives through its Executive Committee. Under the NWPo, WARPO has been made secretariat to the NWRC and is responsible for preparing the NWMP and subsequent updates, and monitoring implementation. Agencies are responsible for preparing their own sub-regional plans within the framework established by NWMP.

The National Water Policy sets new paradigms for the water sector, which include: decentralized water management; cost sharing and cost recovery; private sector participation; community participation; nontraditional financing modalities; regulation separated from supply; and new rights, obligations and accountability. These will have considerable bearing on the existing institutions and the way in which they manage their affairs and inter-act with others. A new National Water Code is being prepared that would align with Policy requirements.

For detail on The National Water Policy, please contact with Ministry of Water Resources.