202
western region of Bangladesh and gradually eastern region is comparatively less
saline intrusion in the coastal region.
At present, tidal waves, surges and coastal flooding are common annual natural
phenomena in Bangladesh (Islam 2001). Most coastal regions show uneven sediment compaction which is controlled by differential sedimentation rates, sediment
composition, water content, depth of overburden sediment layers and tectonic activities (Greensmith and Tucker 1986; Islam 2001). A national strategy for coastal
resource management in Bangladesh is necessary to identify and analysis the problems and opportunities and future development. A study of ESCAP (Economic and
Social Council for Asia and the Pacific) in 1988 and GOB (Government of
Bangladesh) has referred five sets of constraints to the development of a strategy for
coastal water and wetland resource management in Bangladesh such as;
• Policy making and strategies implementation
• Planning for coastal water and wetland resources maintenance
• Integrated coastal wetland resources management
• Coastal wetlands and marine resources uses and sustainability
• Local environmental and coastal ecological perspective and
• Lack knowledge of coastal wetland environment and better understanding (Jalal
1988).
The water and soil salinity penetration in the upstream area of the whole coastal
zone is one of the main obstacles to maintenance of wetland water quality for drinking, irrigation and fisheries purpose. The shortage of upstream fresh water supply to
the coast and tidal waves are facilitating to penetrate salinity intrusion (SRDI 1997).
In the coastal belt there are 81,000 ponds are scattered locations which are the main
source of fresh water supply for the domestic consumption in the rural areas. The
quality of wetland’s water is the major constraint in water supply (Jalal 1988). The
coastal wetland lands are fertile for shrimp cultivation because the water is mostly
saline. A total of nearly 150,000 ha were under shrimp cultivation of the region,
representing 11.8% of the land in the region respectively. Almost 60% of the biomass comes from agricultural residues in the coastal region. Around 200 industries
in industrial zones of Chittagong discharges their untreated wastes to the Karnafuli
River and 190 industries are located in three industrial zones of Khulna, discharging
untreated toxic waste into the Bhairab River which is carrying into the coastal
region. There are 50 coastal towns are located in the coastal region and are affected
by high salinity intrusion in drinking water and arsenic contamination in ground
water aquifer.
Beside these two international ports are situated in the coastal region. The ships
at the ports are spillage of crude oil and discharge of ballast water, sewage from
ships and other activities are causing severe coastal water pollution of the coastal
marine ecosystems. The tourism activities in the coastal region of Bangladesh are
also distracting water quality in the coastal region. As a whole the Bangladesh
coastal region is the most vulnerable coast in the world (Jalal 1988). There is no
integrated management plan for the coastal natural resources or for the coastal communities. The coastal land cultivation, paddy and shrimp production policy is still
S.N. Islam et al.
western region of Bangladesh and gradually eastern region is comparatively less
saline intrusion in the coastal region.
At present, tidal waves, surges and coastal flooding are common annual natural
phenomena in Bangladesh (Islam 2001). Most coastal regions show uneven sediment compaction which is controlled by differential sedimentation rates, sediment
composition, water content, depth of overburden sediment layers and tectonic activities (Greensmith and Tucker 1986; Islam 2001). A national strategy for coastal
resource management in Bangladesh is necessary to identify and analysis the problems and opportunities and future development. A study of ESCAP (Economic and
Social Council for Asia and the Pacific) in 1988 and GOB (Government of
Bangladesh) has referred five sets of constraints to the development of a strategy for
coastal water and wetland resource management in Bangladesh such as;
• Policy making and strategies implementation
• Planning for coastal water and wetland resources maintenance
• Integrated coastal wetland resources management
• Coastal wetlands and marine resources uses and sustainability
• Local environmental and coastal ecological perspective and
• Lack knowledge of coastal wetland environment and better understanding (Jalal
1988).
The water and soil salinity penetration in the upstream area of the whole coastal
zone is one of the main obstacles to maintenance of wetland water quality for drinking, irrigation and fisheries purpose. The shortage of upstream fresh water supply to
the coast and tidal waves are facilitating to penetrate salinity intrusion (SRDI 1997).
In the coastal belt there are 81,000 ponds are scattered locations which are the main
source of fresh water supply for the domestic consumption in the rural areas. The
quality of wetland’s water is the major constraint in water supply (Jalal 1988). The
coastal wetland lands are fertile for shrimp cultivation because the water is mostly
saline. A total of nearly 150,000 ha were under shrimp cultivation of the region,
representing 11.8% of the land in the region respectively. Almost 60% of the biomass comes from agricultural residues in the coastal region. Around 200 industries
in industrial zones of Chittagong discharges their untreated wastes to the Karnafuli
River and 190 industries are located in three industrial zones of Khulna, discharging
untreated toxic waste into the Bhairab River which is carrying into the coastal
region. There are 50 coastal towns are located in the coastal region and are affected
by high salinity intrusion in drinking water and arsenic contamination in ground
water aquifer.
Beside these two international ports are situated in the coastal region. The ships
at the ports are spillage of crude oil and discharge of ballast water, sewage from
ships and other activities are causing severe coastal water pollution of the coastal
marine ecosystems. The tourism activities in the coastal region of Bangladesh are
also distracting water quality in the coastal region. As a whole the Bangladesh
coastal region is the most vulnerable coast in the world (Jalal 1988). There is no
integrated management plan for the coastal natural resources or for the coastal communities. The coastal land cultivation, paddy and shrimp production policy is still
S.N. Islam et al.