Sinking Sovereignty: How Progress is Swallowing Bangladesh's Waters

Lakes constitute a form of freshwater ecosystem. These lakes or wetlands can absorb significant carbon dioxide as substantial carbon sinks. However, they can also emit considerable amounts of excess carbon into the atmosphere, contingent upon their management practices. Consider, for instance, the Gulshan and Banani lakes in Dhaka—it is highly improbable that these water bodies retain any carbon sequestration capacity. On the contrary, one can assert with certainty that they are releasing substantial quantities of excess carbon into the atmosphere. The absence of such poorly managed lakes may be preferable to their presence if proper management cannot be ensured.

The emission profile of freshwater ecosystems is significantly influenced by factors such as land use patterns, surrounding vegetation (if present), pollution levels, human activities, water flow systems, and climate conditions. An examination of the provided image offers insights into these dynamics. For the sake of argument, let us assume that the water in the unnamed wetland in Uttara-Mirpur remains uncontaminated (although this is unverified). Considering the environmental context, this assumption allows us to postulate the potential emission profiles for 2006 and 2024.

My research at the University of Texas at Austin focused on how shortsighted development planning can become problematic in the long term, regardless of the nature of the development—be it flood protection embankments, roads, metro rail systems, or bridges. The Bengal Institute's perspective has brought attention to this expansive, unnamed lake. Prima facie, it appears that this lake has a precarious future. This is due to a combination of government initiatives (govt housing projects nearby), activities of influential private housing developers, and the encroachment of sand extractors, which have already created a dire situation around this vast wetland.

It would not be an overstatement to suggest that this water body plays a crucial role in regulating the heat index of the greater Mirpur and Uttara areas. The potential loss of this ecosystem could lead to significant environmental challenges for the surrounding neighborhoods, severely impacting the quality of life for residents through increased temperatures and public health crises. Such effects may become evident within the next decade.

Therefore, the residents of greater Mirpur and Uttara must take ownership of this water body and actively engage in its preservation. Relying solely on expert intervention may prove insufficient. The community must take the initiative to secure their future.

Now, let's consider another form of freshwater ecosystem: the 'beel'. What is the definition of a 'beel'? According to scale, a 'beel' is significantly smaller than a 'haor'— it can be compared to a lake. However, the primary distinctions between a lake and a 'beel' are twofold: (1) A 'beel' must be connected to a river (flowing water); during the monsoon season, the river and 'beel' will merge indistinguishably. In the dry season, the connection to the river may be disconnected. And (2) A 'beel' will have a distinct ecosystem. A 'beel' will contain biodiversity ranging from plankton to apex predators. All organisms will be interdependent in some form within the food chain. What sovereignty!

I observed a vast 'beel' adjacent to my maternal grandparents' residence in my childhood. I would go fishing in the 'beel' with my uncles and cousins. We would walk through the 'beel' during the dry season to reach the Kapasia market. Then, we would sit by the banks of the Shitalakshya River to rejuvenate ourselves. We would witness countless birds, fish, crabs, and snakes scurrying about within the 'beel'.

However, when people began receiving remittance money from the Middle East, we started observing the gradual filling of the 'beel'. People en masse abandoned agriculture, changing their occupations by migrating to Middle Eastern countries. The sand was brought from afar to fill the 'beel'— that is, the overall watershed was being destroyed; the ecosystem was being devastated. Humans, who occupied a specific position in the food chain, were being adversely affected in various ways— the frog that consumed mosquito larvae was no longer present; the snake that maintained balance by eating frogs when they became overabundant was also gone; the bird that would prey on snakes to control their excess was absent as well. Only mosquitoes persisted. This represents an incredible imbalance! Furthermore, due to the collapse of the watershed, areas that were not meant to accumulate water were experiencing prolonged flooding.

Therefore, can I broadly label remittance as a malign curve in GDP? Has any research been conducted on the impact of remittances on the destruction of village after village? Or are we content if the indicators show an upward trend?