A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering

Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2006

Food self sufficiency for its inhabitants and managing country's untailored flood were the major driving forces of water resources development and management in Bangladesh. Understanding the impacts of water policies and strategies on socioeconomic development and the environment is necessary to improve livelihood. The aim of this study was to evaluate impacts of past water resources development and. management strategies on agriculture and flood management, food security, socioeconomy and environment in Bangladesh. The study reviewed past water policies, strategies and development plans and assesses their impacts and established relationship among diverse factors identified in relation to water development and management. The research was based on the historical data from 1947 to 200 and the questionnaire survey. The study indicated that the past policies and strategies of water development resulted in significant irrigation expansion, especially through groundwater, that in turn helped in achieving country's food self sufficiency target and socio-economic improvements. The flood control measures showed ambiguous results, success was mostly evident with protection against early and casual events, though extreme events still prevailed and were hazardous. Lack of certainty and reliability of surface water, increased dependency on groundwater in all forms of livelihood and the arsenic found in groundwater not only put this resource under stress but also set impetus to identify possible options to be developed for future. Water poverty index was formulated to develop a correlation matrix among diverse issues of water development, which could further promote national decision makers to determine priority needs for interventions in water and related sectors in Bangladesh