The 3rd International Forum  
on Water and Food 
Tshwane, South Africa 
November 14 – 17, 2011 
    
 
Co-hosted by: 
 
 
 
Global Drivers Influencing Water Productivity, Food Security 
and Livelihood of the Local People in the Coastal Areas of the 
Ganges Basin 
ZAHIRUL HAQUE KHAN1, FARHANA AKHTER KAMAL1, DR. BHARAT R. SHARMA2, 
DR. M. SHAH ALAM KHAN3, MD MAHFUZUR RAHMAN4 AND ABU SALEH KHAN1 
1
Institute of Water Modelling, Bangladesh 
2
International Water Management Institute (IWMI), India 
3
Institute of Water and Flood Management, Bangladesh 
4
Bangladesh Water Development Board 
zhk@iwmbd.org 
Session: Basin [Ganges] and Global Drivers 
Key Message 
The coastal zone of the Ganges River Basin in Bangladesh is experiencing salinity 
intrusion, drainage congestion, reduction of flow availability, siltation of river beds 
and inundation by cyclonic storm surges. These effects of the external drivers 
will influence water productivity, food security and livelihood of the local people in 
future. 
 
 
 
 
Summary 
“G4: Assessment of the impact of anticipated external drivers of change on water resources of the 
coastal zone” is one of the CPWF’s Phase II projects undertaken in six river basins all over the world to 
increase the resilience of social and ecological systems. The water resources in the Ganges basin are 
vital for crop-production and livelihoods. G4 will address the global drivers as well as local driving forces 
and their effects on water resources of the coastal zone of the Ganges Basin in Bangladesh. This project 
will develop a comprehensive list of external drivers based on past research, literature review and 
interaction with major stakeholders and peers. Key drivers will be identified through a prioritizing Comment [NS1]: Delete? 
 
 
procedure. Appropriate models will simulate the baseline condition and impacts of the key drivers on 
salinity intrusion, water availability, drainage congestion, and cyclonic storm-surge inundation risks. On 
the basis of the anticipated impacts, different adaptation strategies will be devised in consultation with 
projects G2 and G3. Policy implications on these strategies and a required governance structure will also 
be explored in a participatory way. The 3-year project is only at the inception stage and G4 will explore 
the study area and its hydraulic characteristics.  It will also present a preliminary list of the external 
drivers and salinity monitoring results in the coastal zone of the Ganges basin.  
An integrated modeling technology will enable G4 to simulate future scenarios and the research 
outputs will be milestones for formulating adaptation strategies, water management and improved 
crop-pattern. 
 
 
International Forum on Water and Food