Elite domination of freshwater canals in coastal Bangladesh adversely affects local communities and livelihoods

Despite significant progress in food production and human development, Bangladesh continues to face persisting inequalities, which are exacerbated by challenges related to natural resources sustainability, including elite capture of common pool resources. In the southern coastal deltaic regions of Bangladesh, freshwater canals are a lifeline to multiple food systems livelihoods, but these resources are mired in unequal conflicts and contestations, which are an outcome of resources appropriation and control by local elites and ambiguous interpretations of policies and strategies. About 92% of Bangladesh’s farmers are smallholders, and 75% of this group are marginalized tenant farmers and women who rely entirely on agri-food systems-related livelihoods. This group is most affected by the combined effects of policy incoherence and elite capture of common pool freshwater canals.

This case study reflects this facets and intricacies of governing common-pool resources in southwestern coastal Bangladesh. It also underscores the risks of overlooking both community diversity and deeply rooted sociopolitical elements when trying to tackle water scarcity issues. Addressing them requires nuanced approaches that critically examine the underlying power structures at play.

Please read the full article in Dialogue Earth.