DHAKA, Aug 25, 2025 (BSS) – The government has finalized the draft Haor protection order under the Water Act 2013 and announced three water-critical areas across the country for the first time.  

The draft "Water Management Policy 2025" to control water use in the industrial sector was also finalized at the 18th meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Water Resources Council.

The executive committee met on Sunday at the conference room of the Green Roads Water Building in the city, said a press release today.

Water Resources and Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan chaired the meeting while Agriculture Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury was also present.

After detailed survey and investigation as per sections 17 and 19 of the Bangladesh Water Act, 2013, out of 215 unions (4,911 mouzas) under 25 upazilas of Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj and Naogaon districts of the north-western hydrological region of Bangladesh, 47 unions (1,503 mouzas) have been identified as extremely high water crisis areas.

Similarly, out of 17 unions (104 mouzas) and 01 municipality (08 mouzas) of Patiya upazila of Chattogram district, three unions (07 mouzas) and 01 municipality (05 mouzas) have been identified as very high water crisis areas. 

Water use will be controlled in these areas as per the Water Act and a committee will finalize the steps to be taken within the next one month to ensure the supply of drinking water and water required for household purposes.

The meeting recommended conducting a necessary survey at Subarnachar in Noakhali district to verify the quality of water. At the same time, it was decided to start the ongoing activities to verify the availability of groundwater in the remaining 50 districts in the remaining 14 districts.

In this regard, in the executive committee meeting, a decision was taken to issue the first-ever 'Haor Environment Protection Order' under Sections 22 and 27 of the Bangladesh Water Act, 2013, with the aim of conserving the biodiversity and ecosystem of two internationally important wetlands, Tanguar Haor and Hakaluki Haor. 

The meeting highlighted the weak implementation of the Water Act, 2013 and the need for the Act.